Outdated vehicles raise pollution, temperature
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 21 2013 :
There is no restriction on import of outdated/condemned vehicles from outside the State at cheaper prices and these vehicles whose fuel efficiency are below par have been contributing substantially to air pollution and the rising temperature in Imphal city.
Speaking to The Sangai Express an official source said that Transport Department has no rule or norm to check vehicles imported from outside the State at the State's border.
Even though the life span of a vehicle is taken to be 15 years, vehicles which are mechanically fit but older than 15 years are given relaxation of 5 years after imposing green tax by the Transport Department.
The vehicle's period of utility can be extended by another 5 years provided it remains mechanically fit.
Again, green tax would be imposed for the period of extension.
However, heat and carbon monoxide emanating from vehicles older than 15 years have been contributing substantially to the average temperature apart from raising the level of environmental pollution.
Number of vehicles older than 15 years running in Imphal city has multiplied manifold during the last couple of years.
However, Transport Department has no exact data about the number of such superannuated/condemned or outdated vehicles.
The matter of concern is, how sincere is Transport Department when it certified vehicles older than 15 years as mechanically fit, questioned the official.
The State Government has never turned any superannuated/outdated/condemned motor vehicles into scraps during the past 25 years and Transport Department has no clear idea about the number of vehicles which deserve to be converted into scraps.
Given the soaring temperature in Imphal city, it's time for the Government to give a serious thought on how to keep these superannuated vehicles off the roads, said the source.
Even though the State Government has been battling against global warming in its capacity, it remains a big question how sincere the Government agencies are in implementing its own policies and programmes.
People are yet to see any positive result of all the Government efforts taken up during the last five years towards making Imphal a green city.
Another major factor for the soaring temperature is extensive deforestation and replacement of wooded areas with concrete buildings.
Quantity of heat released by concrete buildings is much higher than the quantity of heat they absorb.
Thus concrete buildings are also contributing a lot to the soaring temperature of Imphal city.
Noting that the State Government seems to be paying maximum attention to plantation of trees in its efforts to tackle climate change, the official stated that the major function of trees is absorption of carbon dioxide and release of oxygen.
As for absorption of heat, shrubs and herbs perform better.
As such, there is a need to plant herbs and shrubs apart from planting trees.
Acting on a PIL filed by one Mehta about the soaring temperature in Delhi, the Supreme Court directed the Government to convert all vehicles older than 15 years into scraps and also to modify all vehicles so that they are fuelled by CNG instead of petrol.
Like in Delhi, the State Government can take up similar measures of converting superannuated/outdated/condemned vehicles into scraps and replace petrol/diesel with CNG for running vehicles if it is keen to arrest the soaring temperature in Imphal city, said the the official source further.
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