There is no doubt that vehicular traffic contributes to air pollution in a big way due to emission of smoke. The increase in the number of vehicles on the roads only means a rise in the level of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other harmful gases in the atmosphere. There was a time when vehicles had to mandatorily possess a ‘Pollution Under Control’ (PUC) certificate which had to be renewed after a certain period of time. The traffic police would ask the vehicle owners for the PUC certificate whenever they check the other documents. But now all this seems to have become a thing of the past. It appears that now it is not necessary for vehicles to pass the pollution test and possess the ‘Pollution Under Control’ certificate. As a result of this relaxation, vehicles, specially, heavy vehicles, are seen belching out thick smoke which pollutes the atmosphere. It is high time pollution caused by vehicles is minimized by making it mandatory for vehicles to possess the PUC certificate at all times.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
