Colombo eyes Delhi’s green transport Richi Verma, TNN | Mar 19, 2012 
COLOMBO: Delhi's transport system will now be replicated by other major cities.
Sri Lankan minister for petroluem and oil Sushil Premajayantha said that they were using Delhi as a model to replicate the CNG-transport system in Colombo and hoped to start work on the same in coming months.
The minister made the announcement at the second Asia Energy Summit held in Colombo last week. The summit organized by Independent Power Producers Association of India in Colombo discussed co-operation for energy security, stability and sustainability in the region.
Premjayantha said he that he visited the Indian capital recently and felt a vast difference in air quality as compared to several years ago. "We want to follow Delhi's example by introducing CNG for the local transport system. The emission rate in Colombo is growing and tackling air pollution is a priority ," he said. Colombo has upto four million cars on the road and over two million motorcycles. The minister said that CNG would be introduced for buses, autorickshaws and cars in their plans.
Meanwhile, state-run oil companies such as ONGC and IOC are also planning to cash-in on exploration and refining opportunities in Sri Lanka. Lanka would call for bids for seven oil and gas blocks in the Mannar Basin in next 2-3 months, said Premajayantha .
(The correspondent was in Colombo at invitation of the Independent Power Producers Association of India Ltd)
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