Wednesday, 05 July 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The transport department will act strictly against increasing air pollution in various parts of Dehradun. The department has identified Jogiwala, Sahastradhara Crossing, Clock Tower and ISBT routes as hot spots regarding rising air pollution where the teams will pay special attention to ensure the maximum number of people have the Pollution under Control (PUC) certificates as per the rules.
He said that these routes are among the busiest roads besides having the highest level of particulate matter in the city that can potentially pose a serious threat to the environment and human health. He said that Dehradun, Rishikesh and Kashipur are marked as non-attainment cities which mean that their respective air index does not match the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). He said that as per the instructions issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB) have prepared an action plan to control rising pollution in these cities.
He said that the transport department has also been making efforts to promote clean-fuelled public transport vehicles to minimise air pollution in cities as per the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The department has also started raising awareness among locals about using clean-fuelled two-wheelers and cars in Dehradun for a sustainable environment. The RTO is also working on ensuring effective enforcement of rules, especially regarding pollution checking of vehicles, added Tiwari.
The department has also started conducting workshops to raise awareness among vehicle operators as well as those agencies that issue PUC certificates. As per the data provided by the department, the RTO issued a total of 1.95 lakh PUC certificates in 2022-23 and imposed a penalty of 1,771 violators in Dehradun. The officials said that with the stringent checking campaign, more people will be penalised for not getting PUC certificates. If these initiatives are successful here, this plan will be implemented in Rishikesh, Haridwar and other major cities too, added RTO.
