TRANSPORT DEPT TO MONITOR EMISSION LEVELS OF BUSES, AUTOS
Carrying pollution certificates to be made mandatory for all public vehicles
In an attempt to check pollution levels, the Environment and Transport departments of the Delhi government will monitor pollution emission by buses and autos in the city.
The government plans to install machines to check emission levels at various points in the city.
“We also want to check the pollution emission of vehicles coming from other states. This will include buses and trucks,” said a government official .
The departments will also make it mandatory for all public vehicles to carry pollution certificate with them.
“It is a mandatory thing, but many vehicles avoid this. But now we will do thorough checkups on this,” the official added.
According to officials, all state roadways buses would be mandated to carry pollution certificates.
The Delhi government will form special teams to monitor this issue and officials will conduct random checks on these buses.
If they are found to be not carrying certificate, a penalty would be imposed on the vehicle owners. However, the government is yet to decide on the penalty amount.
The Environment department has discussed the issue of vehicular pollution in the Capital with Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, as well as the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
“We have found that to curb pollution, special arrangements on checking he vehicular pollution is needed,” officials said.
The department also plans to set up the machines for checking emission levels at various bus depots, such as ISBT Kashmere Gate.
It also has plans to keep a check on the sound pollution by vehicles and the government will set up machines to check noise pollution at important points, like near schools and hospitals.
If any bus or auto is found to using excessive or loud horns, they will be penalised.
According to sources, after the hike in pollution levels after Diwali, the Environment department asked experts to recommend various ways to curb pollution.
Among the recommendations, vehicular pollution was the prime issue which the government can handle itself.
The Transport department has reportedly agreed to all recommendations by the Environment department, and the guidelines and rules are likely to be ready by mid-november.