Thursday, 15 September 2022 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The transport department of Uttarakhand is gearing up to install Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at four locations in Dehradun to penalise pollution-causing vehicles as a part of the action plan of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to check air pollution in the city.
The regional transport officer (enforcement) Sunil Sharma told The Pioneer that the CPCB teams recently conducted a survey of several localities Dehradun in which they found the maximum level of particulate matter in the four locations- Jogiwala, Sahastradhara Crossing, Clock Tower and ISBT, which can pose serious threat to environment and human health. He said that since the main sources of the emission of particulate matter are vehicles, the CPCB suggested the installation of ANPR cameras in these locations to penalise such vehicle owners. In the initial phase, two cameras each will be installed in these four hotspots to facilitate issuing challans to vehicles operating without the Pollution under Control (PUC) certificates as per the rules, said Sharma. He said that this is only the first step in the action plan of CPCB and the transport department to minimise air pollution caused by vehicles. The department is aiming to complete the camera installation work in October in order to commence monitoring of vehicles from November. The RTO also said that though the primary aim of the camera installation is to monitor air pollution, the department will also take action against all the associated irregularities with the vehicles too. He also informed that private cars in the city that are not regularly maintained are the main contributor to air pollution unlike the popular belief that Vikrams’ cause air pollution here. Besides this, he said that big trucks are also sources of the emission of particulate matter. “Travelling is an everyday need but people should also understand their responsibility of maintaining their vehicles regularly to minimise the emission of pollutants. We all have a duty to protect our environment and reduce harmful emissions. The ANPR camera installation along with our upcoming initiatives will certainly help to ensure the locals abide by rules and be responsible to the environment,” said the RTO.
