ITANAGAR, Jun 29: A coordination meeting of the District Administration, Department of Transport, authorized vehicle emission testing agency and State Pollution Control Board was held at the Office of the Arunachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board at Naharlagun in order to discuss issues relating to vehicular emission in the State Capital and measures for its effective prevention, control and abatement.
Chairman APSPCB TechiTagi Tara informed that the matter of vehicle emission is becoming a concern for all of us especially for those residing in the Capital due to the increasing number of vehicles. He informed the DTO, Naharlagun that there has to be a proper coordination amongst all the authorities in order to successfully monitor, implement and execute the various provisions of Acts and Rules related to vehicle emission.
The Chairman, lamented the fact that, there has been some gaps in coordination and communication between the Department of Transport and the SPCB. Whereas, the Department of Transport has to submit regular status report on vehicle emission tests being carried out by the authorized agency to SPCB. However, the Department of Transport has not submitted such reports till date. In this regard SPCB does not have any information or records of such vehicle emission tests being conducted in the Capital city. Whereas, SPCB, being the monitoring agency has to collect and compile reports and data relating to vehicle emission and forward it to the Central Pollution Control Board. He also stressed that there are number of impending cases in the National Green Tribunal relating to Air pollution due to vehicles for which regular reports have to be sent for compliance.
He further highlighted the fact that, due to such communication gap between the Departments, there has been a huge misunderstanding amongst the general public also. The general public is of the opinion that vehicle emission test are being done by SPCB, whereas SPCB itself, like the general public is devoid of any such knowledge, due to non-submission of necessary reports from the Department of Transport. He therefore, requested the Department of Transport and the agency authorized to work in coordination with each other.
He requested the Department of Transport to submit vehicle emission tests and other status reports to SPCB on regular basis hereon.
The DTO (HQ), Naharlagun informed that vehicle emission testing in Capital complex has been authorized to a private agency as the Department is unable to execute it on their own due to shortage of technical manpower. He further said that the agency has been following all the necessary guidelines like periodical submission of revenue and test reports to the Department of Transport.
EAC, Itanagar Capital Complex (ICC), NaharlagunHentoKarga said that the rules notified on vehicle emission by the Central Government is very broad and therefore, sensitization from experts is necessary. He exhorted support from all the concerned Departments to successfully execute and implement the rules in the State.
KipaPaji, Managing Director, M/s NEEC, the agency authorized by the State Government appraised that all necessary guidelines have been followed while conducting vehicular emission tests. Other relevant test reports are also submitted to the Department of Transport on timely basis. He also added that despite of having a suitable vehicle emission testing centre, located at PapuNallah, a very few vehicles come up voluntarily for emission test. Therefore, with prior intimation to the administration such vehicle emission checking is conducted on road side with the help of MVI and Police Department.
