EPD to crackdown on polluting vehicles

Environment Protection Department (EPD) in collaboration with the traffic police and transport department is starting a ‘fine-campaign’ today against smoke emitting and noisy vehicles.

Four teams have been constituted to implement the campaign.

In the past, similar campaigns have been carried out without any fruitful results.

The Environment Act being a special law for environment pollution has over ridding effect on other laws but owing to shortcomings and procedural difficulties, it is not being invoked. Penalty under section 15 of the act is up to Rs 5 million.

Noisy and smoke emitting vehicles are mostly operated by low-income people who are not expected to be able to pay such a heavy fine.

The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PEPA) has regulated a trail for prosecution therefore vehicles from remote areas will bring severe constraints as cases will run for years in courts, said sources. It will also cause difficulties for the concerned department representatives to respond to such a large number of cases.

The impact of traffic pollution is greater than industrial pollution in the metropolitan, said sources.

The major contributors are illegal and un-regulated public traffic comprising of motorcycle rickshaws and two-stroke rickshaws.

The writ of government is challenged due to strong unions and uncontrollable mushrooming of such traffic. Traffic density has become serious issue due to these transport vehicles.

“Vehicle emissions contribute to the formation of smog. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in vehicle emissions can react to form ground level ozone and other secondary pollutants during spring and summer months. During the winter months, vehicle emissions can be trapped near the ground by temprature inversion,” environment researcher Rafia Kamal told Pakistan Today.

Rafia added that this can lead to high levels of primary pollutants including nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter (PM2.5). Extensive studies link smog to a variety of respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms and illnesses.

A number of studies have shown that pollutant exposures near major roadways are greater than other areas in cities. Other studies have linked this increased exposure to an increased prevalence of a wide variety of illnesses including asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia and heart disease.

An official from the environment department told Pakistan Today that the method of conviction should be in summary manner and slabs of fines should be formulated for different types of vehicles so that the field staff is not required to appear before court.

He further said currently an appeal against the fine can be filed within 30 days. Hence, he added, no case can be finished before 30 days. Another appeal route is also available against orders of the environment magistrate before the sessions’ judge, he said.