SHILLONG: Automobile is one of the greatest contributors to air pollution in the city with hundreds of vehicles emitting tonnes of toxic air every day with no steps taken by any department to tackle emission from cars.
Even though many have expressed concerns over the menace and health hazards caused by emission from vehicles, still no action has been taken by the government to improve air pollution and no strict rules are implemented to prevent it.
Buses, carriers, customer vehicles and even the government owned SPTS buses that ply in the city on a daily basis emit tonnes of toxic air that adds up pollution.
Sources said that a bus emitting thick black smoke is common in the city while the transport department as well the Meghalaya Pollution Control Board are in slumber with no action to control the menace of air pollution.
Several complaints were filed but to no avail as the departments are still in the doldrums, sources added.
It is evident that vehicles emit black smog polluting the city everyday but till date there have been no pro active steps on the part of the government to address the issue.
An official source from the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board said all aspects related to pollution testing which are governed by the Central Motor Vehicle Act are under the control of the Transport department.
“We look up to the Transport department to come out with some policies, provisions or directions under the provisions of
the act,” the official said while adding that the Board in the recent past has not received any directions from the department.
At a time when concerns are being raised about the pollution caused by vehicles, the central government is working on an integrated policy to scrap commercial vehicles that are more than 10 years old but the Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has confirmed that there were no immediate plans of banning trucks and buses which are over 15 years.
The reason to frame a policy was felt due to concerns over rising pollution in the country mainly contributed by old vehicles that are based on old technology.
Many say that in the absence of clear and concrete directions, the Shillong Traffic police should take action against such vehicles which pollute the city but the fact remains that the traffic police is already pre-occupied in regulating traffic in the city.
Tinted glass
Apart from polluting vehicles, another violation which is quite common in the city is the use of tinted glasses by vehicles.
Several vehicle owners put up these glasses especially in cars despite the Supreme Court order banning the use of such glasses on vehicles.
When contacted, a police official said that whenever they see any vehicle using tinted glass, they impose fine and the tinted glasses are removed on the spot.