Under fire from citizens and courts for the growing plumes of smoke and exhaust that envelop most parts of the city, the government will soon deploy hi-tech vans to crack down on polluting vehicles and drivers with a penchant for honking.
A total of 12 mobile vans — each costing nearly Rs. 15 lakh — are being procured by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). These vans, to be stationed in the city, will be equipped with vehicular emission testing kits and noise-level meters. “We will procure them within two months, and immediately press them into action,” Ramachandra, Chairman, KSPCB told reporters on Wednesday.
According to KSPCB’s own monitoring stations, just two out of 15 residential, commercial and hospital areas show pollution levels within the prescribed limits. Most major roads have recorded pollution levels nearly three times the norm.
At present, during most enforcement drives, the emission certificate is the only way to gauge pollution levels of a vehicle, on the spot. Recent raids by the Transport Department on defective emission centres and fake certificates have put the spotlight back on an effective crack down on polluting vehicles. Moreover, the Karnataka High Court has censured the board for not having a strategy to deal with the bad air quality in commercial and residential areas.
Apart from this, KSPCB — after a recent resolution by board members — will procure 100 handheld noise-level meters that will be supplied to the Bengaluru Traffic Police to fine motorists with defective engines, shrill horns, and who honk unnecessarily.
With both the transport and police departments saying the equipment will not be of use until technical officers are provided, KSPCB officials said a memorandum of understanding will be signed with them to chalk out the modalities.
