Govt mulls more pollution testing centres in city

SHILLONG: As hundreds of vehicles approach the only pollution testing centre at Motinagar in the city to get their pollution-under-control certificate, the state government finally seems to have woken up and is working on opening up more such centres in the city and in different parts of the state.
The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board office at Motinagar is the only pollution testing centre in the city and ever since the modified MV Act was implemented in the state, around 450-500 vehicles are visiting the centre every day to get their certificates.
Given the rush, the Transport department is now expeditiously working on opening more pollution testing centres in the city.
“The department is working on it and very soon something positive would happen,” an official said.
Different oil companies have also been directed to open such centres in their retail outlets in the city.
Caught without the certificate, the offender has to now shell out Rs 10,000 as penalty. Previously it was Rs 1,000 for the first violation and Rs 2,000 for the second time.
For vehicle owners in the Garo Hills, the situation is even worse as there is no testing centre there.
In the morning and afternoon the Motinagar centre is chock-a-block vehicles awaiting their turn for the certificate, which affect traffic movement in the area.
The centre caters to vehicles even from the Garo Hills since there is no pollution testing centre there.
Sources said opening up of more pollution testing centres is more viable now as the certificate is mandatory and remains valid for only 6 months meaning the vehicle owners have to go for pollution testing twice a year.