Another study confirms CNG made Delhi air cleaner

New Delhi, Dec 21 (UNI) Of all the interventions made to clean Delhi's air, conversion of diesel buses to Compressed Natural Gas has been the most important, according to a recent study by a Washington DC-based research organisation.

''Delhi's CNG Programme has made a huge difference to air quality, but these gains will be lost if the kilometers travelled by all vehicles continues to grow,'' Urvashi Narain, a fellow at Resources For the Future (RFF) and one of the study's co-authors, said while releasing the results here today.

Results emerged from the research could help to shape policy interventions in Indian and other Asian cities, she said, adding of all the different interventions made to combat pollution in the city, the conversion of buses to CNG seemingly had the maximum impact.

Results suggest that conversion of buses to CNG had helped reduce RSPM, CO, and SO2, and not contributed to the increase in NO2 levels, she said.

Of the other interventions, the reduction of sulphur in diesel and petrol also had a significant impact, she added.

Cleaner diesel fuel had helped to reduce SO2, and diesel cars had reduced CO, although diesel cars were found to be contributing significantly to the increasing NO2 levels, Ms Narain said.

Conversion of buses to CNG was important because buses travelled more kilometers in the city and contributed more to the pollution load. The conversion had, therefore, resulted in greater gains, she added.

The study also suggested that the gains of these interventions could be negated by the increase in kilometer travelled by all types of vehicles.

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