JOIN USPCB to launch mobile vehicle emission inspection unit on January 6
The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) Mangaluru division has procured a mobile vehicle emission inspection unit that will be launched in the district on January 6.
The move follows a surge in the density of vehicles that has, in turn, resulted in an increase in air pollution.
The interiors of a Maruti Suzuki Eeco van have been modified for the purpose at an estimated cost of Rs 9.5 lakh. It will be deployed in different parts of Mangaluru city, with officials from both KSPCB and also Regional Transport Office (RTO) conducting joint drives against vehicles of types.
Stopped earlier
Senior scientific officer at KSPCB Mangaluru Jaya-prakash S Nayak told DH that the mobile unit was launched in the year 2001 and was in operation for five years, but a decade ago it stopped its service owing to certain reasons. The unit was winded up in 2006 due to lack of dedicated staff at the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to whom the KSPCB had handed over the mobile unit.
Apart from intercepting faulty vehicles, the unit aims to check the noise level due to honking, besides creating awareness against the same. According to a survey, up to 60% of pollution is caused by vehicles. The mobile unit is being relaunched to overcome the pollution, he added.
Separate equipment
Nayak said, “Separate equipment will be used for petrol and diesel vehicles irrespective of two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers among others, to check emission level. The presence of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons will be calculated. The unit comprises probing equipment (popularly known as emission gun) that will be inserted into the silencer pipes of the vehicles, with vehicles in idling condition to record the emission-level. Another equipment is a display device that shows reading in electronic manner. The whole unit runs on uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that can ensure sufficient backup up to 24 hours.”
The assistant environmental officers, deputy environmental officers and also scientific officers will be deputed along with the unit, said environmental officer Rajashekar Puranik.
RTO speaks
Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Ramesh Vernekar said, “The new unit will come in handy with the Transport Department tasked with penalising offenders. In the ongoing year alone, till the month of November, the Department has booked 215 cases and collected a fine of Rs 1.38 lakh against 1,060 cases booked and Rs 2.46 lakh fine collected in 2015-16 and 958 cases and 2.38 lakh fine amount in 2014-15.”
He added, “As is the norm, emission tests have to be conducted once in every six months. In case of failure to get the tests done, it will be considered as violation and minimum fine of Rs 1,000 will be imposed on the offenders. Apart from new vehicles, emission test is a must for vehicles for fitness certification (FC) too.”
In all, 23 emission testing centres authorised by RTO are functioning in the city, said Vernekar.