Pollution under control loopholes to be plugged

Hyderabad: As a way to check irregularities in pollution testing centers, the Telangana State Transport Department has decided to introduce the system of issuing pollution under control certificates online. The department has already made online many of its services and with this move it hopes to curb the irregularities in vehicle pollution testing centers.

At present, there is no check or control over these centres. They issue certificates charging extra amount even if the vehicles do not pass the test. Hence, the department has decided to take over the control of the system and ensure that only proper certificates are issued.

As per rules, every vehicle should get PUC certificate one year after registration and once in every six months the vehicles should undergo the test. The department is of the view that in the absence of a system of data sharing and supervision many vehicles are not being checked regularly for obtaining proper PUC certificates.

According to officials, under the new system, the mobile pollution testing centers would have GPS technology installed. These vehicles will have to enter all the details of the vehicles that undergo the test.

If the pollutants emitted by a vehicle are more than the prescribed limits, the system itself would reject and the pollution testing vehicle would not be able to issue the certificate online. This will also help the department to have database of vehicles running without PUC.

Transport Commissioner Sandeep Kumar Sultania told The Hans India that Telangana State Technological Services (TSTS) had been asked to call for tenders for linking all the testing centers online. At present, there are 250 registered pollution testing centers in the city.