Taking an initiative to keep a check on pollution levels is one thing, but meeting a deadline is quite another. With the August 31 deadline for banning diesel autos in the tricity fast approaching, the Haryana Urban Development Authority is yet to allot the land for the two proposed LPG filling stations in Panchkula.

“It was in July that the surveys for the petrol pump sites — one in Sector 1 and another one in Sector 14— were conducted by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited, which is the state controller for Haryana. But despite the deadline for the ban approaching, the Panchkula administration has not yet allotted land for the petrol pumps,” a UT Administration official said. He added, “The Food and Supply department has also written to the Panchkula administration to allot the land as soon as possible.”

According to Saumitra Pandai of Indian Oil Corporation Limited, a written communication has been sent to the administration for a prerequisite no objection certificate. “I had met the administrative officials recently asking for the certificate for the LPG filling stations, but we have not received it as yet,” Pandai said.

Admitting that the administration has received a letter from the Food and Supply department, Panchkula DC Pankaj Yadav said he has asked his officials to look into the matter.

Taking an initiative to keep a check on pollution in the tricity last year, the authorities had decided to phase out diesel and petrol-run auto rickshaws from the city till August 31, 2009.

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