Mad rush for modern life has its serious disadvantages as well. Aspiration for more comforts brings many discomforts in trail. We generally underestimate negative impact of modernization. We also tend to ignore how the west has offset the negative impact of mechanised life.
We may cite the example of vehicular traffic in big cities. Since modern life means speed, we have enormous number of motor vehicles running on the streets of big towns and capital cities. These vehicles running either on liquid gas or petrol and diesel emit huge quantities of smoke polluting the air that human beings and animals inhale. Citizens inhale polluted air containing huge quantities of particles injurious to health without being fully conscious of its disastrous impact.
Jammu city is not a very big place but the number of motor vehicles running on its narrow roads is enormous. Some say that it surpasses all other cities of the country in number of motor vehicles plying on the roads. Imagine the quantum of emission we receive daily from these vehicles. The number of motor vehicles is increasing fast in the city and so is the level of pollution. Nevertheless, the Transport Department has taken notice of this problem and has laid down certain directions in what is known as Motor Vehicles Rules. For example, the rules have set forth the level beyond which air pollution should not be allowed. We have also the State Pollution Control Board, an organization that is charged with the responsibility of guiding the State institutions of how they should contribute towards controlling air pollution.
A PIL has been filed before the High Court demanding that air pollution in Jammu owing to emissions of motor vehicles is enormous and the Government agencies should be told to ensure that it is reduced to limits. Responding to the instructions of the High Court, the Divisional Commissioner asked the State Pollution Control Board to inspect Pollution Checking Centres in and around the city established by the Transport Department. The report submitted by the inspection team is shocking and stunning. Twenty-four Pollution Checking Centres are set-up within the limits of Jammu Municipal Corporation and it was found that 8 such centres were not having calibrated instruments, which otherwise are mandatory for issuance of Pollution Under Control certificates.
Similarly, two Pollution Checking Centres were found having calibrated instruments but they were not following other mandatory norms. Nine Pollution Checking Centres were found closed as they had somehow managed to get prior information about inspection. From this action of licensees of these nine Pollution Checking Centres it can easily be presumed that they were not following the norms as such to avoid action they chose to shut down the centres. This ground situation explains that the Transport Department has never been serious about checking the vehicles whether these were observing emission rules or not. Obviously, petitioner has been proved right. It means that the Pollution Checking Centres were issuing false certificates of Pollution Under Control to the motor vehicles plying on the roads of Jammu. Consequently, the State Pollution Control Board has asked the Transport Department authorities either to make the Pollution Checking Centres compatible with the norms of pollution control of motor vehicles or wind up their shops and go home. It is feared that these Pollution Control Centres have caused more pollution in the town than controlling it because they have been instrumental in permitting the smoke emitting vehicles to ply on the roads with a false Pollution Under Control certificates.
With the report from the State Pollution Control Board, it is clear the Transport Department has to take a firm action of either making the Pollution Control Centres fully functional and effective or to wind them up and let the Government make some alternative arrangement. No Government can play with the health of its citizens and continuance of air pollution is a criminal act against humanity.
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