Pollution due to vehicles choking the city.

Pollution due to vehicles choking the city.

Mangalore Today News Network

Nov 16 2015: It is a strange riddle that 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, while the authorities do precious little to curb the crimes.

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 feel conscientious residents of Mangaluru.

The number of vehicles registered in Mangaluru  is 4.82 lakh, the levels of pollution has risen greatly. The department has launched the pollution reduction month, very few personnel were seen checking vehicles for air pollution and the methods of pollution certifications are dubious at all levels, even the manufacturers are just playing games.

Trucks, buses and autorickshaws continue to be the main antagonists contributing to air pollution in and around Mangaluru. There is no distinction between private and KSRTC - Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation buses which are competing to contribute to the pollution.  In fact, KSRTC has adopted strict guidelines as far as environment pollution is concerned but results are not visible.

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.

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, RTO 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.  This is not a practical matter at all - why not have a  phone number and even WhatsApp and the like - emails are not accessable to most people.

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.  This situation needs drastic improvement.