CNG kit makers can register online from today

New Delhi: The AAP government has told the Delhi High Court that from Friday CNG kit manufacturers and suppliers in the city can get themselves registered online with the transport department, enabling them to fit CNG kits in the 'in-use' vehicles.

The submission was made before Justice Manmohan after he rapped the government for the delay in the process of registration of CNG kit distributors, saying lack of such kits was "adding to rise in air pollution" in the city.

"This court had issued directions. Still the government (Delhi) has not yet made functional its CNG module/software of NIC, where the manufacturers, importers and distributors are to register themselves for fitting authorised CNG kits.

"You say that the file in this regard has not yet been cleared. How can a minister or an officer sit on a file for 20-25 days once this court has issued a direction," the judge said.

It asked the counsel for the Delhi government's transport department whether "this was the way the authorities function?"

"They take the file to their home and keep it in their pockets and don't even think that due to this, lots of people are facing hardship?" it said.

"You talk of CNG but do not allow them (manufacturers) to fit it in the vehicles," the court said, adding, "Later you will say that because of diesel vehicle there is rise in air pollution."

Sensing the mood of the judge, the transport department's lawyer Sanjay Ghose informed the court that the minister (Satyender Jain) has taken a view that the "software module developed by the NIC shall be fully functional/operational from tomorrow onwards".

Taking note of the submission, the court disposed of a plea by a society of certified CNG kit manufacturers and suppliers, represented by advocate Kapil Sankhla, which had sought setting aside of the government's decision allowing fitting of CNG kits in 'in-use' vehicles only when the original vehicle manufacturer certified it to be genuine.