news details |
|
|
| No check on pollution checking centers | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, May 16: The pollution checking centres have not been following rules while issuing non-pollution certificates to vehicles.
There are around 150 pollution checking centres registered by the Motor Vehicles Department.
However, it has been seen that pollution under control certificate is just a formality for vehicles due to lack of reliable pollution checking centres. "They issue certificates without properly checking the vehicles," sources said.
The non-commercial vehicles are supposed to be phased out after 15 years while as the non-commercial vehicles are condemned after 25 years by disallowing certificate of road worthiness. "Despite creating immense pollution, non-commercial vehicles are not being condemned," a senior official of Transport department said.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has banned all 10-year-old diesel vehicles from plying on Delhi roads. The Supreme Court has also supported the NGT's decision of banning all 10-year old diesel vehicles. However, officials said the government has no such plan to implement such decisions in the state.
Various anti-pollution laws have been framed in the state over the years like, Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act 1974, Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act 1981, Environment Protection Act 1986, JK Non-Biodegradable Material Act 2007, JK Brick Kiln Act 2010; But official sources said there is rarely any implementation of these laws. Officials within State Pollution Control Board said suspended particulate matter (SPM) and respiratory suspended particulate matter (RSPM) have witnessed a steep rise over the years due to increasing number of vehicles, crushers and factories.
The official said the government has failed to set up an environment policy in the state. "We have all types of pollutions in the Valley but nobody is listening to reduce the pollution level here. J&K is the worst possible states in pollution level."
He said government has been hiding the facts that pollution level was not increasing at an alarming rate in the state.
The climate change has become a global phenomenon and it has a significant impact on the ecosystem of Jammu and Kashmir. The melting of glaciers has become a serious issue in the state for the last 15 years but government seems least interested in protecting them.
An official report of J&K Environment and Ecology department says that the current glacial extents are out of balance with current climatic conditions indicating that glaciers will continue to shrink in the future even without further temperature increase. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
