Why no CNG in govt vehicles, asks HC

The High Court on Thursday asked the State government why it has not introduced CNG (compressed natural gas) in government mass transport vehicles in the City.

While hearing a suo motu PIL with regard to air and noise pollution in the City, a division bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice Ram Mohan Reddy pulled up the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board for being inactive in controlling the noise and air pollution and observed that the Board has been inactive for the past 30 years.

During the hearing, the bench asked why KSPCB’s order on not registering new vehicles cannot be implemented. The Transport Commissioner Ramalinga Gowda said he was not competent to take decision on the same and that he has forwarded a letter to the central government. The Centre had in turn sought details about the air and noise pollution in the City.

The bench directed the Additional Chief Secretary M Madan Gopal, Secretary from Ministry of Environment and Forests to come up with short and long term plans to control pollution. The bench sought details about what various departments have done so far and what they propose to do in future.

The traffic department made a submission with regard to the steps taken by it to control air pollution from April 1 to 22 stating that it has checked 29,810 vehicles, booked 1,854 cases and collected Rs 6,56,259 as fine. With regard to sound pollution, 29,912 vehicles were checked, 1,517 cases booked and Rs 5,87,700 was collected as fine. Over 1,095 shrill horns were also seized. The bench asked whether they have seized diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old and if they have conducted frequent emission tests on public transport buses.

BBMP in its submission said the model roads, Cubbon Road, Race Course Road and Sankey Road will be ready by April 28 and they have laid proper footpath for nearly 250 kms of the 1,450 kms of footpaths in the City. The bench directed the government department to come up with a plan to control pollution levels in the City and adjourned the next hearing to April 29.