Vehicular Pollution worsens Srinagar Air Quality
Air Quality in Kashmir is deteriorating due to the lax norms on controlling vehicular pollution and the lack of reliable pollution checking centres.
Many international studies have found very strong links between air pollution and health issues. The Harmful Effects of Vehicle Exhaust, a report published by Environment and Human Health Inc, a non-profit organization based in USA finds ‘mounting evidence’ on cardiovascular disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and diabetes and vehicular pollution.
Local studies too have attributed rising levels of air pollution to compounding health issues.
On the face value, vehicles are being checked for emission regulations conformity.
The Traffic Police has imposed fine on 1080 vehicles since September 2014 for not having a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate.
The number, according to Traffic Police is roughly 15 percent of all traffic violations fined.
However, in spite of the 85 percent vehicles in possession of valid PUC certificates, many feel that the story is different than what meets the eye.
“Pollution under Control Certificate is just a formality for vehicle owners and authorities,” Haseeb-ur-Rehman, SSP Traffic Srinagar who has just been transferred said. He feels that Road Transport Department has a bigger, more serious role to play in controlling vehicular pollution. “Even the vehicles that do possess a valid PUC certificate have been seen emitting horrifying black clouds. I fail to understand how these are given an OK.
AGED VEHICLES
The High Court has banned all diesel vehicles older than 25 year to ply on roads. Diesel vehicles older than 10 years have to get a six monthly fitness certificate. Perhaps these figures, though somewhat older, will depict the state of affairs.
Only 410 vehicles were denied a renewal in 2005. And similarly, only 294 vehicles out of the 53512 failed the ‘fitness test’ in 2009. That is the last data available in this regard on the RTO website.
A highly placed officer in Road Traffic Organisation said, “This is perhaps the only state where we allow 25 year old vehicles to ply on roads. In other states, 15 year old vehicles are banned from plying. High Court needs to revisit its decision.”
RTO Kashmir, Mehmood Ahmed Shah said, “The new vehicles are usually compliant to Euro 2 and Euro 3 norms but it is a fact that only 4000 vehicles will be condemned this year while about 45,000 will be added to Kashmir.” In the year 2014, 43,000 vehicles were put on Kashmir roads.
EYES WIDE SHUT
The reports of trucks burning kerosene instead of diesel are rampant. A truck owner confided, “In Srinagar, it is difficult to run on kerosene. But out of Srinagar, it is quite common.” He failed to appreciate the difference of fuel would make to the air. “Diesel is no better than kerosene,” he argued.
Javid Panjoo, Member Secretary JKPCB said, “We have taken over the control of motor vehicles’ pollution from transport department. We have two vans fitted with vehicular pollution checking equipment, one each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions.”
However, the only Pollution Checking Van in Kashmir was damaged in floods along with its equipment. GK has learnt, that even before the floods, the equipment was ‘undergoing calibration’ and was not available to check pollution. The mobile vehicular pollution checking centre has not tested a single vehicle since July 2014.
No steps are being taken to repair or replace this van. “We do not have funds for that,” a JKPCB official In-charge of Vehicular Pollution said.
Simultaneously, the licenses of all but two pollution checking centers in Kashmir have been cancelled. “These centers did not have the requisite infrastructure and equipment. The licenses have been suspended and can only be renewed when they fulfill the criteria,” RTO said.
HEALTH EFFECTS OF POOR AMBIENT AIR QUALITY
Even a common man needs no lesson on the effects of air pollution on health. Doctors at SMHS Hospital say that a number of patients with respiratory problems such as dyspnea, cough, respiratory tract infections and irritations are able to join the dots and pin air pollution as the culprit for their problems.
Dr. Gulam Hassan, Consultant Allergy Specialist at SMHS Hospital said, “I see patients with serious respiratory problems. They would often attribute it to ‘dust and smoke outside’.
A 2013, Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report, shows air pollution as one of the top 10 killers in the world. In South Asia, air pollution ranked as the sixth most dangerous killer, as per the report.
WHO report, ‘Cost of Air Pollution’ states, ‘Outdoor air pollution kills more than three million people across the world every year, and causes health problems from asthma to heart disease for many more…But how much of the cost of those deaths and health problems is due to pollution from cars, trucks and motorcycles on our roads? Initial evidence suggests that in OECD countries, road transport is likely responsible for about half the USD 1.7 trillion total.’
Vehicular Pollution worsens Srinagar Air Quality
Case to ban vehicles older than 15 years
Air Quality in Kashmir is deteriorating due to the lax norms on controlling vehicular pollution and the lack of reliable pollution checking centres.
Many international studies have found very strong links between air pollution and health issues. The Harmful Effects of Vehicle Exhaust, a report published by Environment and Human Health Inc, a non-profit organization based in USA finds ‘mounting evidence’ on cardiovascular disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and diabetes and vehicular pollution.
Local studies too have attributed rising levels of air pollution to compounding health issues.
On the face value, vehicles are being checked for emission regulations conformity. The Traffic Police has imposed fine on 1080 vehicles since September 2014 for not having a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate. The number, according to Traffic Police is roughly 15 percent of all traffic violations fined.
However, in spite of the 85 percent vehicles in possession of valid PUC certificates, many feel that the story is different than what meets the eye.
“Pollution under Control Certificate is just a formality for vehicle owners and authorities,” Haseeb-ur-Rehman, SSP Traffic Srinagar who has just been transferred said. He feels that Road Transport Department has a bigger, more serious role to play in controlling vehicular pollution. “Even the vehicles that do possess a valid PUC certificate have been seen emitting horrifying black clouds. I fail to understand how these are given an OK.
AGED VEHICLES
The High Court has banned all diesel vehicles older than 25 year to ply on roads. Diesel vehicles older than 10 years have to get a six monthly fitness certificate. Perhaps these figures, though somewhat older, will depict the state of affairs.
Only 410 vehicles were denied a renewal in 2005. And similarly, only 294 vehicles out of the 53512 failed the ‘fitness test’ in 2009. That is the last data available in this regard on the RTO website.
A highly placed officer in Road Traffic Organisation said, “This is perhaps the only state where we allow 25 year old vehicles to ply on roads. In other states, 15 year old vehicles are banned from plying. High Court needs to revisit its decision.”
RTO Kashmir, Mehmood Ahmed Shah said, “The new vehicles are usually compliant to Euro 2 and Euro 3 norms but it is a fact that only 4000 vehicles will be condemned this year while about 45,000 will be added to Kashmir.” In the year 2014, 43,000 vehicles were put on Kashmir roads.
EYES WIDE SHUT
The reports of trucks burning kerosene instead of diesel are rampant. A truck owner confided, “In Srinagar, it is difficult to run on kerosene. But out of Srinagar, it is quite common.” He failed to appreciate the difference of fuel would make to the air. “Diesel is no better than kerosene,” he argued.
Javid Panjoo, Member Secretary JKPCB said, “We have taken over the control of motor vehicles’ pollution from transport department. We have two vans fitted with vehicular pollution checking equipment, one each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions.”
However, the only Pollution Checking Van in Kashmir was damaged in floods along with its equipment. GK has learnt, that even before the floods, the equipment was ‘undergoing calibration’ and was not available to check pollution. The mobile vehicular pollution checking centre has not tested a single vehicle since July 2014.
No steps are being taken to repair or replace this van. “We do not have funds for that,” a JKPCB official In-charge of Vehicular Pollution said.
Simultaneously, the licenses of all but two pollution checking centers in Kashmir have been cancelled. “These centers did not have the requisite infrastructure and equipment. The licenses have been suspended and can only be renewed when they fulfill the criteria,” RTO said.
HEALTH EFFECTS OF POOR AMBIENT AIR QUALITY
Even a common man needs no lesson on the effects of air pollution on health. Doctors at SMHS Hospital say that a number of patients with respiratory problems such as dyspnea, cough, respiratory tract infections and irritations are able to join the dots and pin air pollution as the culprit for their problems.
Dr. Gulam Hassan, Consultant Allergy Specialist at SMHS Hospital said, “I see patients with serious respiratory problems. They would often attribute it to ‘dust and smoke outside’.
A 2013, Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report, shows air pollution as one of the top 10 killers in the world. In South Asia, air pollution ranked as the sixth most dangerous killer, as per the report.
WHO report, ‘Cost of Air Pollution’ states, ‘Outdoor air pollution kills more than three million people across the world every year, and causes health problems from asthma to heart disease for many more…But how much of the cost of those deaths and health problems is due to pollution from cars, trucks and motorcycles on our roads? Initial evidence suggests that in OECD countries, road transport is likely responsible for about half the USD 1.7 trillion total.’
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
The evidences of increasing air pollution in Kashmir are enough, although minimal due to poor and inadequate monitoring. There is also no doubt about the grave consequences of this unchecked ‘monster in making’. But, there seems to be no effort to strengthen the pollution control norms in the state, the monitoring of emitting vehicles and generating public awareness.
The evidences of increasing air pollution in Kashmir are enough, although minimal due to poor and inadequate monitoring. There is also no doubt about the grave consequences of this unchecked ‘monster in making’. But, there seems to be no effort to strengthen the pollution control norms in the state, the monitoring of emitting vehicles and generating public awareness.
