Be prepared to go to court if you are caught driving a polluting vehicle. The city traffic police along with the transport department, have embarked on a drive to crack the whip on owners of polluting vehicles.
Since March, the traffic police have registered cases against 156 polluting vehicles. Though, at present the number seems low, the coming days could see more being penalized with stricter implementation of the rule. “There are ample rules in the Motor Vehicles Act wherein negligent vehicle owners can be dragged to court if they are caught driving heavily polluting vehicles,” said Mr A.S. Sadashivaiah, chairman of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, which is also part of special drive to reduce air pollution in Bengaluru.
“A majority of vehicles ply on the city roads without emission check certificates. It has been found that only 15 to 20 per cent of vehicles have the ‘Pollution Under Control’ certification,” added Mr Sadashivaiah. Even though it is mandatory for all vehicles have get emission checks every six months, most vehicles users are found to be slacking. “There is a complete lack of awareness among vehicle owners on pollution checks. During the special drive, the focus at present is educating the public and every day, we, along with the transport department, are checking 150 vehicles,” informed Additional Commissioner of Police (traffic) M.A. Saleem.
“By taking stern action, the city traffic police, to a great extent, have reduced drunken driving. Similarly, there has to stricter measures against polluting vehicles as well,” emphasised Pollution Control Board chairman Mr Sadashivaiah.