KOLKATA: On Tuesday, police issued 41 notices to motorists for failing emission norms by anti-pollution cell. Around 32 motorists — who failed the emission tests a week ago — were fined Rs 1,000 for failing to update their PUC.
The average prosecutions in the city was 43 in the past four months.
The Kolkata traffic police has decided to concentrate on a few areas — frequented by taxis and mini trucks — that emit maximum pollution in the city.
Areas under Vidysagar traffic guard, Bhowanipore, along with Howrah and Sealdah traffic guards have been chosen, where cops will carry out intensive anti-pollution checks.
For the past four months, Vidyadagar traffic guard alone send 49 notices. Purba Jadavpur guard issued 100 notices and 48 notices were issued by Bhowanipore and 59 by Park Circus guard.
The anti-pollution cell are presently training officers in all 25 guards on how to use the smoke metres. “The central laws clearly state how these checks need to the carried out. The NGT has clarified on the needs of follow ups a week after servicing notices. Once the training gets over, the individual guards are going to witness a spurt in cases,” said an officer.
Meanwhile, bus owners on Tuesday appealed to both the transport department and police to publish a white paper on the proposed conversion to CNG and the criteria cops will follow to carry anti-pollution checks on them. “Now that we have submitted the exact number of road worthy vehicles, we want to know whether these vehicles are to be scrapped even if converted to CNG,”said Tapan Banerjee of Joint Council of Bus Syndicate.
