At a time when the Transport Department is observing environment pollution reduction month, hundreds of vehicles, particularly, commercial vehicles, continue to emit thick black smoke, contributing their bit to the city’s environment pollution.
The manner in which these vehicles pollute the air raises doubts as to whether government departments have limited their role to observe pollution reduction month as a formality, said Sadashiva Bangera, a resident of Mangaluru.
With the number of vehicles registered in Mangaluru reaching 4.82 lakh, the levels of pollution too are on the rise. Mr. Bangera said though the department has launched the pollution reduction month, very few personnel were seen checking vehicles for air pollution.
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Trucks, buses and autorickshaws continue to be the main culprits contributing to air pollution in and around Mangaluru. There is no distinction between private and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses which appear to be competing with each other to contribute their bit to the pollution.
In fact, KSRTC has adopted strict guidelines as far as environment pollution is concerned.
However, the standards appear limited to Bengaluru and surrounding areas and has not percolated elsewhere in the State. While long-distance buses appear completely tuned up, the culprits have been the buses on local routes, like Mangaluru-Dharmasthala, Mangaluru-Puttur etc.
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G.S. Hegde, in-charge Regional Transport Officer, Mangaluru, said that the department regularly conducts checks to verify whether the vehicles have pollution under control (PuC) certificates. If the vehicles are found to be emitting large volumes of smoke, the department would impose a fine and ask vehicle owners to get the certificate again, he said.
Except checking the certificate, the department has no other mechanism to check whether a particular vehicle is emitting smoke in excess of the prescribed quantity, Mr. Hegde admitted. If people find vehicles emitting excess smoke, they can mail the details, including the registration number and picture tortomng-ka@nic.in. The department would issue a notice to the owner and get the vehicle inspected, Mr. Hegde added.
KSRTC Mangaluru Divisional Controller Vivekananda Hegde said the Corporation normally would not allow polluting vehicles on the roads. However, he would get the issue examined again at the depot levels and would ensure that polluting vehicles do not ply on the roads.
*Number of registered vehicles in Mangaluru RTO cross 4.8 lakh mark
*Mail details of polluting vehicles tortomng-ka@nic.in