Date:17/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/17/stories/2008041760320300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Notice issued to pollution testing centre

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Motor Vehicles Department has issued notice to cancel the licence of an approved pollution testing centre at Uloor on the NH 47 following detection of irregularities in issuing Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates to motor vehicles.

The notice was issued after it was detected that the gadgets were tampered to give the mandatory certificate even to vehicles that exceed the permissible emission level. This is the second centre to be issued notice by the department to close down since Friday.

Surprise check

The anomalies were found in a surprise check carried out by Deputy Transport Commissioner (South Zone) A. Abdul Shukoor, Motor Vehicle Inspector (Flying Squad) A. Bijumon and Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector B. Aji on Wednesday.

The team also impounded five signed PUC certificates from the centre. The centre was also issuing certificates for all class of vehicles without carrying test. The registration number plate of the vehicle would be taken to the centre and placed in front of the web camera to get the certificate.

Reading fixed

The reading in the smoke meter was fixed at four by tampering the sensor to ensure that all vehicles get the PUC certificate that had a validity of six months, they said. The centre is owned by an employee of a private hospital near the Medical College Hospital.