‘Consider using e-vehicles for transporting LPG to Matheran’

Bombay high court (HC) has suggested that electric vehicles be used for supplying LPG cylinders to Matheran.

This comes after the court was informed that the railways, which had started trains to deliver essential commodities to the eco-sensitive zone as per HC orders, had refused to transport LPG cylinders as it violated their safety norms. The bench of justice A K Menon, while hearing a petition filed by former NCP MLA Suresh Lad, was informed that as per the court’s previous order railways had started transporting essential commodities to the hill station. Advocate Gaurav Parkar, appearing for Lad, added that the railways has refused to transport LPG cylinders along with other essential commodities. Parkar said that before the lockdown, cylinders were brought on horseback but it was not ideal now, given the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, hence, the arrangement cannot be continued. Advocate T J Pandian appearing for the Central Railway and advocate D P Singh for the Centre, stated that LPG cylinders or any inflammable material cannot be carried on railway wagons as there is an explicit bar against carriage of gas and inflammable materials.

The HC then directed the petitioners to apply before the monitoring committee when they convened and suggested “the committee shall therefore consider the feasibility of such means [electric vehicles].”

THE BOMBAY HC BENCH WAS HEARING A PLEA FILED BY FORMER NCP MLA SURESH LAD