Two days after the High Court’s ban on two-stroke autorickshaws was implemented, clashes erupted across the city as police began seizure of vehicles in earnest.

Public buses were set afire and there was large-scale rioting as traffic department officials began a clampdown at different crossings.

The Hazra crossing, Taratola flyover, Tollygunge phari, Rashbehari Avenue crossing were some of the prominent troublespots.

Police had to resort to lathicharge and Rapid Action Force had to be called in. Fifteen people have been arrested.

While the drive to clean up the city’s air has received much popular support, the ground reality cannot be wished away. And there is no denying the auto owners’ point that the city lacks the requisite number of LPG outlets to support an instant conversion.

Despite the government’s claims that existing LPG stations are under-used, auto owners who have LPG-run vehicles face an ordeal each time they try to refuel.

Mahbub Alam, whose auto plys on the Kadapara-Mechua route, has to take a detour to Manicktala — an extra five kilometers — every time he wants to refuel his vehicle.

“There are no LPG stations between Phoolbagan and Mechua. The nearest pump is in Kankurgachi, but it has been lying defunct for several months now,” he said.

The refuelling station at the BPCL pump in Kankurgachi has a “No Gas” notice hung on it.

“As the demand is low, the supply is a little erratic,” said K K Khanna, owner of the petrol pump.

The Hijree aut o center of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) in Manicktala serves as the only refuelling station for autos in Kankurgachi, Phoolbagan, Beliaghata and Shyam Bazar. “At a time we can fill 7,000 litres. But that gets over in three days. The fuel comes from Haldia and thus takes time. Even when the tanker arrives, it takes about two hours to fill LPG into the storage tank,” said N K Pathak, the station manager. He added that the demand has increased by around 30 per cent after the High Court order. Most autos fill about 12 litres at a cost of Rs 28.30.

Every night after 9 pm, there are serpentine queues outside the pump. “There is a refuelling station near Khanna cinema. But half the time they run out of gas. The other stations are in Salt Lake and Dunlop, very far away,” said Niranjan Bagal, an auto owner. “There is no infrastructure even for the existing LPG autos and now the government wants to convert all petrol autos,” he added.

“The hue and cry over converting to LPG is nothing but hogwash. I switched to LPG last year thinking that it would substantially cut my costs. But I still have to run my auto in petrol due to the paucity of LPG stations. I have to travel seven kilometres to refuel,” said Shankar Nath, who runs his auto from Burrabazar to Sealdah.

The state government, however, has a different story to tell. “At present, there are 12 CNG outlets in the city. Not even 20 per cent of their capacity is being utilised currently,” said M L Meena, Principal Secretary of the Environment department.

He added that during an official meeting held in September 2008, it was decided that IOC, Hindustan Petroleum (HP) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) will invest in 12 new refuelling stations by March 2009. “Once auto owners decide to convert to LPG, many other companies will be willing to invest. Installing an LPG fuelling station can easily be done in an existing pump. It does not take too much time,” Meena said.