Case booked against driver in Madurai for polluting air

The city traffic police booked a State-run bus for emitting excess smoke on its way to Chatrapatti on Monday afternoon.

Road users complained with the Inspector of Police (Traffic), M. Palaniappan, about the thick smoke bellowing out of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation town bus (TN 59 N 1391) proceeding to Chatrapatti from Peiryar Bus Stand .

The Inspector, who was on his way home for lunch, was shocked to see the smoke that almost blinded the visibility of road users.

He intercepted the vehicle near the Race Course Colony junction on the New Natham Road.

Road users complained of irritation in their eyes and started coughing while passing through the smoke.

The smoke left a thick layer of black powder on the road. “Asthma patients will be severely affected by such smoke,” the Inspector said. Incidentally, May 6 is World Asthma Day.

The bus driver, G. Palpandi, was booked under Section 190 (2) of Motor Vehicle Act for polluting the air. A fine of Rs. 1,000 would be collected when the case is proved in the court, he added.

The police also took photographs of the smoke.

Some of the crew members of other buses that passed through the junction, complained that the administration was not bothered about periodical maintenance and replacement of spare parts leading to such embarrassment to the drivers and conductors.

“Several other buses were also facing similar problem,” one of them said.