Is Your Vehicle Releasing Bad Smoke? Caution: Cops Crackdown on Vehicular Emissions

Is Your Vehicle Releasing Bad Smoke? Caution: Cops Crackdown on Vehicular Emissions

Mangaluru: According to a survey done by Anti Pollution Drive Foundation few months ago, the results showed many vehicles emitted high levels of smoke despite possessing mandatory pollution certificates. Though periodical checks for air pollution were mandatory there was no mechanism for verifying the certificates and certification of standards of the agencies. And since the traffic density in Mangaluru was exceeding its carrying capacity of infrastructure in the city, therefore there has been enormous air pollution created by the vehicles, which have not undergone emission test.

When is the last time you had the emission test done on your vehicle? If it has been more than six months, you better do the emission test right now-because as part of Traffic Management and Road Safety Month, the cops have been cracking down on vehicles releasing polluted smoke. The Traffic Cops are using the help of Karnataka State Pollution Board, through their ‘Vehicular Emission Monitoring Mobile Van’. In just one hour, among the 40 vehicles that were checked, 12 failed the emission test- but the drivers were allowed to go with a warning and an awareness message on air pollution.

Vehicles should show emission test below 3.5 ppm, and if they exceed this number, a case will be booked, and the fine between Rs 1000-2000 will be decided in the court by the judge. Goods vehicles and small cabs, including auto-rickshaws were found to be the most polluting among all the vehicles in the City. As per police, a large number of goods vehicles, over 60 per cent of the vehicles did not meet emission standards. Approximately 65 per cent of the taxis plying to and from the Mangaluru International Airport were found not up to standards.

Vehicular emission is said to contribute to a whopping 45 per cent of the total air pollution in the city. Over-loading, using adulterated fuel and vehicles that are too old — these are touted as the main reasons for the test failures. So in a drive to check pollution levels in Mangaluru, the Traffic Cops have geared up to crack whips on the motorists plying without emission certificates. The cops have warned motorists to get their vehicles checked and obtain emission certificates from the authorized centres to avoid penalty.

Speaking to Team Mangalorean, DCP Manjunath Shetty said, ” The vehicles should get the certificates every six months and the Transport Department officials will conduct a regular check. Vehicles failing to produce emission certificates will be slapped with a penalty of Rs 1,000 for first time and Rs 2,000 for second time, and that the fines will be slapped under Section 200 of the Motor Vehicles Act by the judge in the court. We only book cases for violation of emission test. With growing vehicle numbers and resultant congestion and dieselisation, air pollution is a growing concern in the city. The city is losing its inherent advantage of dominant commuting practices – use of bus and walking at the cost of clean air and public health. Through these checks done during Road Safety week, we will only warn the motorists and also bring awareness among them about air pollution created by vehicle bad smokes”

Yes, Mangaluru is in the grip of rising air pollution. This city needs stringent measures including leapfrogging emissions standards to Euro VI, curbing dieselisation, scaling up of integrated public transport, car restraints and walking for clean air. This has exposed very high level of pollution within the breathing zone of people. This indicates serious public health risk. Research done on air pollution in the City showed that half of the urban population breathes air laced with particulate pollution that has exceeded the standards. This also shows air pollution is high across all neighbourhoods exposing both poor and the rich to toxic effects. This has a direct influence on public health.

Sources reveal that Walkers and public transport users are inhaling very high pollution in Mangaluru. AC car users are also not safe: There is a strong variation in exposure depending on the mode of transport. The open modes like walking, open buses and autos show very high level of exposure than ambient levels. Commuters on sustainable modes are more at risk. Studies in Mangaluru show health impacts of air pollution, especially on children. Stunning evidences are available on health impacts on traffic policemen who are directly exposed to traffic pollution in these cities.

Our city still has the chance to plan its future growth differently and avoid the path of pollution, congestion and energy guzzling. If our City does not want to wheeze, choke and sneeze then it has to act now. It is time to set new terms of action. There are many options for the city to cut killer pollution, crippling congestion, expensive oil guzzling and global warming impacts of vehicles. But someone has to take the initiative- and in the meantime, the cops should crack down on vehicular emissions constantly, and NOT only during Road Safety Week/Month