Recent incidents of fires involving CNG buses have been caused by a lack of adequate provisions for inspection of these vehicles, resulting in rampant non-compliance by bus manufacturers with the prescribed safety standards, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) says.
''Even as yet another CNG bus blew up in the capital recently, both the Delhi and the concerned central ministries remain quiet. They don't have any plan of action to offer for safety inspection or make manufacturers liable,'' Ms Anumita Roy Chaudhry of the CSE said in New Delhi on Saturday. Expressing shock at the recent incidents of bus fires - consecutively four episodes within a short span of three months-- she said,'' Obsessed only with the desire to discredit CNG technology the official agencies forgot to do their own bit. Except for the standard promise of setting up yet another committee to investigate the matter, they have no plans to enforce safety compliance standards and establish accountability.'' Even the findings of the earlier committee reports on fire incidents have been suppressed, she said in a statement issued.
''No provisions have been made for the inspection of buses whereby each and every CNG bus undergoes inspection of the engine and high-pressure fuel storage and piping systems before being allowed on to the road - this is a norm followed everywhere throughout the world.'' Also, the government has completely ignored the need for clear guidelines for installation, fitting and bus body fabrication. While the government does not admit its own lapse, it along with the manufacturers, conveniently put the entire blame on the bus body builders, she said.
According to the CSE, official silence in the matter was only shielding the bus manufacturers who should have taken the greater responsibility in ensuring that the bus body builders were trained to handle fitting and installation that need special attention during body fabrication. Bureau Report