The Hindu : `Pollution controlled in 95 p.c. of MTC buses'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 04, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

`Pollution controlled in 95 p.c. of MTC buses'

By R.Sujatha

CHENNAI Feb. 3. Air pollution due to fuel had been controlled in 95 per cent of MTC buses, according to Sheela Rani Chunkath, Chairperson, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB).

Two years ago, 53 per cent of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses were above the pollution emission limit, but now it was only 10 to 15 per cent, she said, inaugurating the first computerised diesel smoke meter at the Alandur MTC depot here today. Only two to three lakh of the 13.5 lakh vehicles on Chennai roads had received the pollution check certificate.

Lorry movement within the city would soon be restricted to night time, which would bring down the pollution. The air was cleaner now that mofussil buses had been shifted to Koyambedu, she said. Efforts were being made by the transport department to promote four-stroke in place of two-stroke two-wheelers, as this would pave the way for low emissions by private vehicles. She said the Government would buy 27 to 30 new machines, which will be installed throughout the State.

The Transport Commissioner, N.S. Palaniappan, said 185 centres in the State would shortly be computerised and emission check made mandatory for all buses run in the city. Though 130 centres were run by private and Government agencies in the city, it was found that private agencies did not make objective checks.

The Ashok Leyland, which installed the meter, had chosen the Alandur depot as the first official centre in the country.

After the test, vehicles would be given a square-shaped sticker--red if reconditioning is required and green if acceptable.

C.T. Meyyappan, Managing Director of MTC, said 2773 buses were run in the city, and noted that the use of `bulb' horns instead of air horns had reduced noise pollution.

The new smoke meter installed by the Ashok Leyland on behalf of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers and TNPCB, will ensure fool-proof certification. The vehicle is brought to the centre and the number plate is photographed. The engine is warmed to a specific oil temperature and all residual smoke in the exhaust system removed. Then the engine is accelerated from idle to the maximum rpm and the average of 4 accepted readings taken.

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