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ABSTRACT Natural Gas for containing air Pollution and for sustainable development � A critical Analysis on environmental perspective (By A.VENKATESAN, Research Scholar, School of Law, GD Goenka university, Gurgaon, Haryana. ) The topic sustainable development has got different facets like Zero hunger, clean water, sanitation, health care, gender equality , Clean energy, education, infrastructure etc. I am confining this research study from the perspective of combating air pollution and ensuring clean air by bringing certain significant changes in Petroleum laws/Policies. The major laws that can give new impetus for combating pollution is : 1. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act 2006 (in short PNGRB Act) 2. Petroleum and Mineral Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act 1962. The Article 21 of the Indian Constitution ensures the Right to life and liberty includes right to decent way of livelihood . In other words, while going for right to Development, the right to breath clean air free from any pollution is also a paramount right envisaged by the constitution. We need to draw a line and reconcile between the two. Of late, the India�s capital city Delhi is considered as GAS CHAMBER for some days owning to the fact that the pollution level was very alarming and the people were subject to lot of respiratory problems like asthma etc. The duty is casted upon the State to guarantee the wholesome air as envisaged by the framers of the constitution of India in the larger public interest. Article 48A of the constitution also mandates protection of environment. The Bhopal Disaster case, MC. Mehta (Taj Trapezium Matter) vs Union of India are land mark judgments of Apex court towards safeguarding the people from environmental degradation . How to combat the pollution thereby paving the way for sustainable development: 1. With the increase of population, the transport vehicles using polluting fuels like Diesel etc have multiplied manifold . The major cause for the air pollution is the vehicular emission and particulate matter. The carbon monoxide emissions from the diesel engines create respiratory problems like asthma, lung cancer etc more particularly to the children reducing life expectancy. The need of the hour is to convert polluting Diesel vehicles into Green fuel . As on today, the number of CNG vehicles are far less than the polluting diesel vehicles. The reason behind the same is that we do not have adequate CNG stations covering nook and corner of India unlike Petrol Pumps to cater to the needs of the CNG vehicles. With the limited CNG Stations, the CNG vehicles have to stand in queue. Moreover as the CNG stations are existing only in main cities without any coverage of the CNG stations in outskirts and villages, the user of CNG vehicle is not in a position to go on long travel due to non-availability of filling stations. However, the PNGRB vide its Notification dated 14.5.2010 stated that the activity of setting up CNG Station can be undertaken only in areas AUTHORISED by the Board. i.e. CNG dispensation can not be done outside any authorized area without the specific permission of the Board. Hence the need of the hour is to augment the CNG stations in all parts of India by filling up the gaps in the existing Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) Policies/Guidelines by relaxing the rules for opening up of free market for setting up of CNG stations in line with Petrol Pumps instead of restricting the business through PNGRB controlled AUTHORISATION to only certain entities which are into City Gas Distribution. In other words, we need to have Customer Friendly Policy to encourage abundant availability of CNG Stations in all part of India with uninterrupted service for optimum utilization of the Green fuel free from any pollution. 2. Containing Flaring of Natural Gas: In India, the natural gas is continued to be wasted through flaring in various places because the gas as it is difficult to store and transport and hence emergent steps needs to be taken for containing wastage of this precious fuel significantly by bringing in appropriate Policy . Usage of natural resources needs to be moderated to save for our future generations. 3. Bringing User friendly Shale Gas Policy. India needs to pluck the loopholes in Shale Gas Policy to augment maximum utilization of natural resources for achieving Gas Based Economy in India. The above are the tools to the policy makers and policy implementers as the same is crucial for India in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals/target by 2030. Key Words- Sustainable development, reducing the fuel pollution, environment, flaring of natural gas, shale gas policy. AUTHOR:- A.VENKATESAN, Research Scholar, School of Law, GD Goenka university, Gurgaon, Haryana PHONE:-9591991096 EMAIL ID:-venkatesan@gail.co.in