Mission pollution control fails to take off

Plan to deny fuel to vehicles sans emission test gathers dust

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has sent a proposal to the State government to stop fuel supply to those vehicles which do not undergo regular emission tests.

The KSPCB, in May, 2013, had sent a proposal to the Transport Department to make a law to ensure that users of vehicles get them tested. Accordingly, vehicles that seek fuel refill must display their emission test certificates. However the government is silent over the proposal. Vehicle users too are showing little interest and this is not helping matters.

“We want this to be strictly enforced, considering the increasing vehicular pollution due to emissions. It can happen only if there is a law to enforce it and therefore we have sent this proposal,” said Vamanacharya, chairman, KSPCB.

He said that a 14-member special committee formed by the State government to suggest ways to bring down the level of pollution in the City had recommended several measures which include change in fuel, bringing down the percentage of lead emissions and making emission test mandatory for vehicles.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy told Deccan Herald that he was not aware of KSPCB’s proposal and said that he would get back after obtaining information from officials.

Interestingly, the order to make emission test mandatory is the result of an apex court petition and the court’s directions way back in 2003. But no state has shown inclination to it, except Karnataka.

According to Vamanacharya, the air pollution level in the City is increasing due to extensive use of diesel vehicles. With the number of diesel vehicles overtaking petrol vehicles in the City and also the increase in the number of vehicles, KSPCB feels that there is a need to implement the test mandatorily.

There is no stringent law to ensure that vehicles undergo emission tests. The City, according to the Transport department, has 268 emission testing centres. As per the information provided by the Transport officials to KSPCB, these centres furnish statistics of vehicles which undergo tests on a day-to-day basis.

However, no information was available about the number of vehicles which underwent the test. Sources in KSPCB said that considering the vehicular density, less number of vehicles undergo tests. According to traffic expert M N Srihari, emission testing has just become a namesake.

“It is misused by emission testing companies and even vehicle dealers. Most certificates are signed in advance without even the tests being conducted. Emission tests should be made mandatory,” he said.

He said the onus is on the Transport department to monitor such issues as the KSPCB has other work and is short staffed.