Bengaluru's pollution levels: 40% vehicles fail emission test

It is no secret that Bengaluru's pollution levels have gone from bad to worse over the past decade. A major cause of air pollution is vehicle emissions, and a series of checks conducted in several parts of the city in the last few days by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Transport and Road Safety Department, traffic police and BMTC have shown that we still have a long way to go in curbing pollution.

·  Approximately 4,400 vehicles tested since June 21, 40 per cent failed emission tests.

·     Around 50 vehicles were seized for emitting black exhaust smoke.

·        First-time offenders were fined Rs. 2,000.

Checks were conducted at Central Silk Board, Old Madras Road, Mysore Road and Tumakuru Road.

One reason for vehicles failing to meet norms is that while Bengaluru follows Bharat Stage IV norms, vehicles in other districts follow BS III norms. These out-of-city vehicles would fail emission norms. The KSPCB is analysing the data and will come up with suitable counter-measures.

Source: The Hindu