#STOPSMOKYVEHICLES Campaign! Why Crack Down only on 2&4 Wheeler? Why Not Buses & Autos?

#STOPSMOKYVEHICLES Campaign! Why Crack Down only on 2&4 Wheeler? Why Not Buses & Autos?

Mangaluru: The Regional Transport Office (RTO) along with an NGO-APD and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) have started a campaign named “#STOPSMOKYVEHICLES “since yesterday, to mark the Air Pollution Month (November) – and the campaign will last for a month, where vehicles plying Mangaluru City, Mulki, Moodabidri, and surrounding areas will undergo emission test on smoky two and four wheelers. But why crack down only on two and four wheelers? Why not Buses and 3 wheelers (Auto rickshaws), which emit heavy smoke. And why only the crack down for a month? Shouldn’t the RTO or the Police do the emission year long. This project seems like the Police Traffic Awareness Month, where vehicles were checked for violations and fined, and after that month it’s all history again?

The manner in which these vehicles pollute the air raises doubts as to whether government departments have limited their role to observe pollution reduction month as a formality. With the number of vehicles registered in Mangaluru reaching in lakhs, the levels of pollution too are on the rise. Though the department has launched the pollution reduction month, there will be very few personnel checking vehicles for air pollution. Trucks, buses and auto rickshaws continue to be the main culprits contributing to air pollution in and around Mangaluru. There is no distinction between private and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses which appear to be competing with each other to contribute their bit to the pollution.

It is learnt that RTO and PCB officials will be at the helm doing the checks on smoky two and four wheelers. A spot fine of Rs 1000 will be slapped on the violator, or a charge sheet will be filed. And for those who don’t produce the emission test certificate they will definitely fined, and those vehicles having an emission test certificate and do not comply to the pollution standards, will be issued a warning notice- Action will also be against the emission centre. As per RTO, they will have their eyes only on two and four wheelers, since they have been evading the officials due to shortage of inspection crew.

But why only two and four wheeler ask many motorists. If you clearly notice, when the buses climb uphill, they emit thick black smoke, and that pollutes the city.Also are non-maintained auto rickshaws which also emit thick smoke. So its advisable, that RTO and the other concerned officials also crack down on buses and three-wheelers. Even though RTO has made it mandatory for two-wheelers and private vehicles to undergo emission test and the inspection staff are on their toes all the time to slam penalty if these vehicles do not have emission certificates. Ironically, most of the buses plying in the region leaving behind thick trail of black smoke are rarely stopped and questioned by the authorities.

Ironically even when a smoke emitting bus is stopped, the bus has emission certificate at hand, standing in a legally correct position. This has left behind a question on the credibility of the emission certificates that these buses possess. The Motor Vehicles Act makes it mandatory for all the vehicles to undergo emission test at the emission testing centers every six months, failing which two and three-wheelers have to pay hefty penalty, where the officials can levy maximum fine of Rs 1000 on any category of vehicles and Rs 2000 for repeated offence. The road users say that while the private owned buses are still in good condition, the case is the worst with the KSRTC buses, which often emit a lot of smoke.

One two-wheeler rider speaking to Team Mangalorean said, “Just look at those old buses, and especially the KSRTC Grameena Saarige (Rural Transport) buses which release heavy smoke. In the mid of heavy traffic and dust, it has become a hazardous task to ride two-wheeler on these roads. This heavy smoke from buses chokes me. I am often worried about my health. And the RTO and police have turned a blind eye towards this”.

One activist says that emission test certificates are only a piece of paper without any meaning. “As the emission testing centres are managed by the private sector, there is a chance of producing fake certificate and there is no guarantee for the fitness of the vehicles. Buses which release heavy smoke should be checked on the spot using interceptors by the police as they do for other vehicle,” he suggested.

However, a RTO staff said that spot inspections have been a longstanding idea, which cannot be implemented due to the acute shortage of inspectors in the department. “It is practically difficult to check each and every vehicle. But, pollution caused by vehicles can be controlled to a large extent if spot inspection, surprise visits to emission test centers and inspecting the transparency of checking is brought into place,” he said emphasizing on creating awareness through campaigns. Punishment and penalties cannot achieve what awareness can achieve and in this regard, the transport department in Mangaluru conducts air pollution control month in November every year, he added.

Buses, trucks and auto rickshaws the key culprits with their thick, black smoke. At a time when the RTO is observing environment pollution reduction month, hundreds of vehicles, particularly, commercial vehicles, continue to emit thick black smoke, contributing their bit to the city’s environment pollution. While long-distance buses appear completely tuned up, the culprits have been the buses on local routes, like Mangaluru-Dharmasthala, Mangaluru-Puttur etc.

One complaint logged on police web portal says, “On behalf of the Citizens of our dear Mangaluru city, I specially request all the policemen of the traffic department to be very STRICT and ALERT on all the vehicles that emit thick black smoke which is dangerous to our health. Specially buses and lorries, also some autos. For eg: This morning I was riding my two wheeler behind a bus (Route No. 13A. KA……..126. State bank – Shediguri) which was emitting thick black smoke and the whole road wasn’t visible ahead. Policemen just watch and do nothing about it. (Most of the time busy with their mobile phones). Wearing mask is not a solution. Please get to the root cause by being strict and taking action. This is the least we can do to save our Manguluru city and Mother Earth”.