the Supreme Court on January 31, 2001 said that it would not extend the March 31, 2001 deadline for the conversion of all commercial vehicles in Delhi into single fuel compressed natural gas (cng) mode.

"The authorities failed to carry out their obligations under the Prevention of Air Pollution Act and Motor Vehicles Act. Our orders directing the authorities to carry out their statutory obligations were flouted. This resulted in pollution,' said a three-judge bench of the apex court, comprising chief justice A S Anand, justice B N Kripal and justice V N Khare.

According to the apex court's earlier order of July 28, 2000 all commercial vehicles plying within the city have to start using cng by March 31, 2001.

The court directed the Delhi government to file a status report on the steps it took to implement its previous order. The court also asked two auto giants Telco and Ashok Leyland to suggest steps for conversion of the city buses into cng mode in two weeks time. Reacting to the apex court's ultimatum, Delhi's transport minister, Parvez Hashmi, said, "We will go to the court with all the steps we have taken till now.'