Punjab has decided to take strict action against polluting Heavy Transport Vehicles (HTVs) of public and private sector educational institutions, hospitals and industries.
The Environmental Protection Agency of Punjab has directed institutions to ensure inspection and maintenance of HTVs. Transport Department has established the Vehicle Inspection & Certification System (VICS) for this purpose. Violation of this order could result in the imposition of a penalty and even the impounding of polluting HTVs.
“All public and private educational institutions, healthcare establishments, as well as industrial units shall ensure inspection and maintenance of their Heavy Transport Vehicles employed for pick & drop of students and/or staff. They will ensure it through Transport Department’s Vehicle Inspection & Certification System (VICS). Authorities will deal strictly as per relevant legal framework any contravention to this order,” reads a notification issued by the EPA Punjab Director General Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh.
“The EPA Punjab may impound, with the help of local Police, the motor vehicle which will operate in contravention of these rules. They will impound vehicle after the days mentioned on the direction slip or even after the imposition of administrative penalty,” the notification reads.
Smog in Punjab:
Punjab is witnessing the devastating impact of smog. The smog is likely to persist during the winter season. Experts term vehicular pollution caused by faulty and improperly maintained vehicles one of the major contributors to smog formation.
The Punjab Environmental Protection Act 1997:
No person shall operate a motor vehicle which is emitting an amount of air pollutants or noise. It has also clearly mentioned concentration and level of air pollutants excess as per the Punjab Environmental Quality Standards.
It empowers the EPA to issue directions to any motor vehicle or class of vehicles to install such pollution control devices. And prescribed other equipment or use such fuels or undergo such maintenance or testing. It hold authority to exhaust emission beyond permissible limits. EPA also holds authority to take action and impose administrative penalties for such violations.
