Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 15: A strong nexus between transport department and pollution checking centre owners has been unearthed after an RTI query revealed that more than 50 % of the centres are running illegally across state.
The centres operate without necessary calibration certificate and Annual Maintenance Certificate (AMC's).
Documents available reveal that more than 60 Pollution Checking Centres in various areas of Jammu and Kashmir are running illegally and authorities hardly take action against them.
The documents obtained under Right to Information Act (RTI) from the office of Transport Commissioner by Umar Javaid RTI Activist from Srinagar reveals that the transport commissioner's office has renewed authorization of many pollution checking centres upto 2015 to 2016, but on the other hand Calibration and AMC's was received in 2011 ,2012 and 2013.
Some of the Pollution Checking Centres who have received AMC's and Calibration certificates in 2011 , 2012,2013 and 2014 are:
Eem Gee Associates Satwari Chowk Jammu , Indian Institute of Driving, M/S Kathua motors , National Garage Gangyal , Good Will Transport company Batmaloo Srinagar , JK Excavator Nowgam Srinagar , Qamar Automobiles Fruit Mandi Srinagar, Hassan Motors Sopore , Hitech Pollution checking center Udhampur , Wadi Pollution Checking Centre Anantnag , Khan Pollution Checking center Anantnag, Oberio Service Cebter Narwal, Devidas Gopal Krishan Pollution checking centre Narwal, Janta Motors Ravidas Mandir Jammu, Iqbal PCC Nagbal Ganderbal , Delhi Motors Dumail Udhampur and many more
Pertinently on Nov 23rd 2013 Early Times had carried a detailed report on pollution checking Centres providing pollution certificate to vehicles without proper checking in Jammu.
The report had revealed that there are 31 Pollution Checking centres in Jammu province, which check the vehicle with their equipment, and charge a nominal amount from the customers . But as on date, most of the centres are issuing certificates without checking the vehicle and the same is authenticated by traffic police.
Rakesh Kumar owning a diesel car while talking to Early Times said "I visited a pollution checking centre at Gandhi Nagar, I left my car start for pollution check, but the guy sitting there did not even stand from his seat.
He clicked the picture, filled the details and gave me the print out of PUC certificate." "I was shocked, when I asked him why didn't he check the vehicle for pollution, he replied that he has issued the certificate, what else do you want," he added.
Despite regular check by the Traffic department in Jammu and Srinagar , many vehicles, especially commercial vehicles can be seen emitting lot of smoke causing pollution. Requesting anonymity a traffic cop said, "Whenever we check the documents of over polluting vehicle, we hardly find anyone without PUC, but the violation can be seen physically." "We fine them in that condition, but there should be a proper check on the PUC issuing authorities," he added. |
