Adding to the pollution

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses are supposed to display a ‘Pollution Under Control’ (PUC) board, stating that the vehicle has been checked and is well under the permissable standards of pollution.

   This provision has been listed in the Central Motor Vehicles Act and was introduced in BMTC buses five years ago.

   Sadly, the PUC boards in some of the BMTC buses are past their expiry date and the drivers have not bothered to get an emission certification renewed.

A senior scientific officer with the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPC) informs that there are 46 lakh vehicles in the City and the buses comprise a negligible number. “We don’t have any provision to measure the pollution caused by buses alone. The transport sector contributes to almost 42 per cent of air pollution, followed by industries and construction, informs the officer. He adds, “There are about 8,000 buses plying in the City and I don’t think they contribute too much to the pollution levels.”

According to the Motor Vehicles Act, all commercial vehicles are supposed to undergo a pollution check, once every six months but officials with the BMTC claim that they put all the buses through a pollution check every month. Anand CG , general manager technical (in charge), BMTC says, “We have one smoke detector in all the 39 depots in the City and one smoke detector in the central station, which is used only for surprise checks. If any bus is found exceeding the permissable level of 65 HSU (Hartridge Smoke Unit) then the bus is pulled off the road, checked and then let off again.” Anand says, care is taken never to let out a bus that is not checked for pollution. When asked why there are buses still running with PUC boards that are well past their expiry dates, Anand says, “We will get that checked. The penalty for running with an expired PUC board is severe.”

 BMTC managing director Anjum Parwaz wasn’t aware that are buses plying with expired PUC boards. “We will get that checked. However, we do have our squads that conduct regular smoke tests on all BMTC buses. The new pool of buses belong to the non-polluting category,” he states.

Those most affected by the smoke emitted from buses, especially at traffic signals, are the two-wheeler riders who have nothing but a helmet to protect them. Most of the bikers feel that buses run on adulterated fuel, for they emit a thick black smoke.
Rakesh Menon, a marketing professional says, “There should be more Volvo buses on the road because they cause less pollution. In addition to BMTC buses, the private buses, running without a proper licence add to the pollution levels. Bikers are the worst affected from the poisonous smoke.”

Mirshad, an entrepreneur, notes, “The old BMTC buses need to go off the roads. They make a lot of noise and emit more smoke than the newer ones. I am not sure whether the authorities are doing enough to check the condition of these buses.”

Anas Muhammed, a businessman, is not convinced by the tall claims made by the officials of the BMTC about doing enough to control pollution from buses. “Buses do emit a lot of smoke and I am not sure if it is well within the prescribed limit. I firmly believe that they do not undergo frequent tests and run on adulterated fuel,” he concludes.