Pollution control measures remain invisible
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 17 2022:
As the smoke coming out from vehicles affect environment and pollutes the air, thereby giving severe impact on humans and other living beings, efforts are being made to reduce pollution at the minimum level but pollution control activities in the state remain almost invisible.
Scientists and officials of Manipur Pollution Control Board measured level of air pollution at several places in Imphal some years back and found pollution level above the permissible limit.
It would not be wrong to conclude that scores of vehicles plying on the roads in Imphal is the main factor for increasing pollution level in the city.
With a little over 22,000 sqkm, Manipur might be small in size but it is estimated that the state has more than 4 lakh vehicles.
As of March 31, 2021, a total of 3,81,281 vehicles have registered at transport offices of the state and this figure does not include vehicles registered before the year 2001 and those registered between April, 2021 and March, 2022 .
Accordingly, more than 4 lakh vehicles are in the state as of now and majority of the vehicles are in Imphal West and Imphal East districts.
The Union ministry of road transport and highways had issued a notification on June 14, 2021 informing all the states of the country to issue 'Pollution Under Control' certificate to every vehicle as per Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989.The ministry also told states to maintain a database for PUC certificates and link the same with the national register.
Every PUC form must have QR code comprising model, owner's name and the level of smoke production.
However, there is no sign of implementing the ministry's directive till date in Manipur and there are many owners who do not even understand what PUC is.
Manipur Pollution] Control Board measured pollution level of some diesel autos plying in Imphal area few years back and found the pollution level of the some of the diesel autos beyond permissible level.
However, no diesel auto was seized or made to pay fine.
Due to increasing number of vehicles, traffic congestion has become a routine in Imphal city every day except on Sundays and holidays and many of the vehicles plying in the city are old and they produce excessive smoke.
As per Motor Vehicles Act, 2009, vehicles which are found producing smoke more than permissible level may face penalty with fane up to Rs 10,000 and every vehicle must possess PUC certificate as per Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1989 .
PUC certificate must also be renewed every six months after conducting necessary smoke test and a fine of Rs 1,000 may be levied against first time offender and Rs 2,000 against second time offender.
However, production of PUC certificate is not taken seriously in Manipur though checking PUC becomes mandatory outside the state.
Meanwhile, an organisation named 'Keithel' formed by unemployed youth with the main objective of providing jobs to unemployed youth of the state has tied up with Manipur government under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model and started conducting pollution test of vehicles.
Keithel's unit Environment Pollution (prevention and control) had already begun mobile pollution testing of vehicles using three vans since April this year.
The mobile pollution testing unit of 'Keithel' has all the equipment required for pollution testing using renewable solar energy designed by Laishram Sanathoi of Singjamei Waikhom Maning Leikai.
According to Keithel managing director Irom Jee, the mobile testing unit will cover all the districts of the state and unit has so far issued PUC certificates to more than 700 vehicles and anyone interested in conducting pollution test for PUC certificate can do so by calling on the contact number and address given on web portal of Keithel (http://www.keithel.net) .
He also said that that the organisation is providing service with the motto 'without loss without profit' and pollution testing charge ranges from Rs 50 to Rs 100 based on size of vehicle.
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