1mn hydrogen-fuelled vehicles in India by 2020

New Delhi, June 3: The National Hydrogen Energy Road Map prepared by the government visualises that by 2020, one million hydrogen-fuelled vehicles, mostly two and three wheelers, and 1,000 MW aggregate hydrogen-based power generation capacity will be established in the country.

A total investment requirement of Rs 25,000 crore had been projected in the Road Map for creating the required hydrogen supply infrastructure to realise these goals. An amount of Rs 1,000 crore had been allocated for research and development, and demonstration activities for promoting the energy-efficient green fuel of the future, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy sources said.

A 'Demonstration Project' for setting up a Hydrogen Dispensing Station at a petrol pump on Lodhi Road in Central Delhi had been sanctioned as a joint effort of the Ministry and the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).

The project would enable dispensing of neat hydrogen and H-CNG blends as a fuel for automotive vehicles.

The station would have five NM3/hour hydrogen generation capacity electrolyzer systems, hydrogen storage and facilities for dispensing neat hydrogen and H-CNG blends in varying blend ratios.

The project would also generate operational experience in handling hydrogen as an automotive fuel.

The Rs five-crore project was expected to be commissioned by March 2008.

Another project was planned to be undertaken by the Ministry jointly with the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, in which H-CNG blends would be introduced on a trial basis in existing CNG Vehicles.

The project aimed at the introduction of H-CNG blend as a fuel on trial basis for buses, cars and three wheelers, involving five leading Indian automobile manufacturers -- Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Eicher Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra and Bajaj Auto.

It was hoped that as many as seven public buses running on H-CNG would be on roads in the national capital by next year.

While several names in the Congress are doing the rounds, including that of External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, consensus still seems to be eluding the Congress on a Presidential candidate who could be acceptable to all the allies. The only heavyweight Congress leader in whose favour the Left parties have come out in open support as a Presidential candidate is Mr Mukherjee, but the name has not found favour with Ms Gandhi due to his indispensability to the UPA Government, being the senior most and a seasoned Congress leader and, above all, a trouble shooter to the UPA Government.

Mr Mukherjee, who heads over three dozen Group of Ministers(GoM) in the UPA Government,is being viewed by political observers as the best bet for the UPA in the Presidential election who could pose a formidable challenge to Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat should the NDA decide to feild him as its candidate or Mr Shekhawat himself chooses to standfor the post as an Independent candidate.

However, whether BSP supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, who has assured Mrs Gandhi of her support to the UPA candidate to be named by the Congress and favoured a Brahmin being put up for election to the highest Constitutional post, would approve of Mr Mukherjee's candidature is a million dollar question.

Ms Mayawati with over 60000 votes in her bag holds the key to the Presidential election and her support to the UPA candidate would be crucial for the victory of the UPA candidate.

Just as Ms Mayawati is keeping her cards close to her chest about her preference for the Presidential candidate, DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Karunanidhi, too, has not made public his intention to lend his support to Mr Mukherjee's candidature or backed any other Congress leader for the post.

Senior Congress leader and septugenarian N.D.Tiwari, HRD Minister Arjun Singh, AICC Treasurer Moti Lal Vora, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and former Union Minister Dr Karan Singh are the other names in the Congress being floated as the likely candidates for the top post. If loyalty to Mrs Gandhi were to be made the sole criterion for being named the UPA candidate for the top post, Mr Patil and Mr Vora may steal a march over all other aspirants for the post,according to political observers.

However, neither the Left parties nor the BSP nor the DMK have so far given any indication of their support to Mr Patil's candidature.

According to the sources, Mr Vora on the other hand may find a strong supporter in BSP supremo Mayawati, to whom he had administered the oath of office as the Chief Minister of undivided Uttar Pradesh while as the Governor. Mr Vora being a Brahmin fulfills the criterion reportedly being insisted on by her for being a candidate.

The fact that during his stint as a Governor Mr Vora had endeared himself to all the political parties and to the people of the State gives him an edge over other likely candidates Ms Mayawati's choice may fall on.

As far as loyalty to 10 Janpath is concerned, Mr N.D.Tiwari and Mr Arjun Singh, both of whom broke away from the Congress to form Congres(T), named after Mr N.D.Tiwari, consider temselves the true loyalists of 10, Janpath.

Even Mr Tiwari stands a good chance because he is known to keep a good rapport with the leaders of all political parties in Uttar Pradesh, according to sources.

Mr Shinde, who has already lost to Mr Shekhawat once in the contest for Vice Presidentship, has since not developed the stature required of the high post, the sources said.

UNI