Govt to lift ban on retrofitting of CNG kits
Ban lead to largescale imports and installation of spurious kits, HC told
The Delhi government on Wednesday said that the ban on retrofitting of CNG kits in “in- use” cars will be revoked soon as the transport department is coming up with a software that will keep records of the sold kits.
Members of the Association for CNG kit manufacturers, Distributors and Retrofitment Centres staged protest outside the Delhi Secretariat here demanding immediate revocation of ban on retrofitting of these kits in “in- use” cars as it has affected their livelihood for the last three months.
“The government will revoke its ban on retrofitting of CNG kits ( in- use cars) in next few days. An online system is being created for retrofitting CNG kits,” transport minister Satyendar Jain said.
The transport department is currently working on a software under which CNG kit importers, distributors and retrofitment centres will be required to upload details of sold kits.
“For the last three months, there is no work of retrofitting of CNG kits which is affecting our livelihood. People doing this business have the fundamental rights to earn their livelihood, and government cannot snatch the fundamental right by issuing such order,” Association spokesperson Yousuf Kareem said.
In June, the transport department had imposed a blanket ban on retrofitment of CNG kits in all cars. However, in August, the department had lifted the ban on registration of new CNG kit- fitted cars.
Meanwhile, a plea was moved in the Delhi high court alleging that the AAP government’s recent decision to prohibit CNG kit suppliers from retrofitting the kits in “in- use” vehicles has lead to large scale importing and installation of spurious kits.
The petition by an association representing certified CNG kit manufacturers and suppliers has sought setting aside of the Delhi government’s decision under which retrofitment of a kit is endorsed only when the original vehicle manufacturer certifies it to be genuine.
Justice Manmohan, before whom the matter was listed, refused to pass any interim order, allowing the kit makers or suppliers to retrofit the kits and instead asked them to meet with the transport commissioner of the government to explore a whether members of the association can be allowed to retrofit the kits with some additional safeguards.