UP govt to launch 600 pollution check centres

Around 1,000 youths with a high school pass certificate will be directly involved in the project to be implemented at tehsil level in all 75 dists

LUCKNOW : With a view to checking toxic smoke (pollution) released from vehicles and also generating employment, the UP transport department will open 600 automobiles pollution testing centres.

“Under the scheme, high school passed youths will get employment through the centres,” said a statement issued by the government. The department has also set up a portal in this regard. Any person, NGO, trust, firm, company, public company and people related to partnership can apply on this portal.

These centres will be opened at the tehsil level in all the 75 districts of the state, including Lucknow. Around 1,000 youths with a high school pass certificate will be directly involved in this project.

Moreover, with an increase in the production of pollution testing machines to be installed at these centres, the income of more than 10,000 people, engaged in its maintenance, will also increase indirectly, said the statement.

“The department has already completed the preparations to set up these pollution check centres and make it business-oriented. Maximum number of unemployed people will be connected to this scheme and arrangements will be made to issue certificates by opening pollution check centres in every area,” the statement said.

It further said while the number of vehicles had exceeded 2.5 million in Lucknow alone, there were only 75 pollution control centres in the state capital as of now. This is the reason why it is a big challenge for the government to stop the emission of hazardous smoke coming out of vehicles.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has also expressed concern over the increasing pollution in UP, after which the transport department prepared a plan to open more and more pollution testing centres across the state.

Till now, only a few select institutions, including petrol pumps or recognised garages, were allowed to open pollution check centres but now it has been allowed to be opened in private areas as well.

Any person complying with the prescribed terms and conditions will be able to open a pollution check centre and issue a PUC (Pollution Under Control ) certificate.

New provisions have been made in the Uttar Pradesh Online Motor Vehicle Pollution Scheme Check Centre-2020.

If a person wants to open a mobile pollution check centre, it is required that he must have his own vehicle that should be fit to install pollution checking equipment.

With this, he will be able to issue certificates after checking vehicles at many places, including rural markets, tehsils, blocks and police stations under the division.