Monday, May 16, 2005
Monday, May 16, 2005 |
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Chennai
Vani Doraisamy
BETTER DAYS AHEAD: With the MTC on a clean-up act, such smoke-gushers may soon be off city roads. — Photo: K. Pichumani
CHENNAI: Buses belching thick black exhaust smoke may soon become a thing of the past on city roads with the Metropolitan Transport Corporation all set to pursue a green agenda. Apart from phasing out grossly polluting vehicles and tightening emission control for its existing fleet, MTC will introduce 350 buses this year that conform to Euro III standards. Also, the MTC switched over to low-sulphur diesel (LSD) from April 1. This is by way of fulfilling the transport department's mandate to meet rigorous global emission standards. A report to this effect was submitted by the State Government to the Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, New Delhi, on reducing particulate matter pollution within city limits, following a Supreme Court order last year. A survey by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board showed that in a few places in the city, the levels of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) exceeded acceptable standards by at least 1.5 times and the levels of suspended particulate matter (SPM) by several times. "The new buses will replace old vehicles and this will continue for the next few years till the entire fleet is replaced as per current emission norms. Though our financial position does not allow us to replace the entire fleet at one go, we frequently recondition engines, nozzles, fuel injection pumps and atomisers. Though as per the Motor Vehicles Act, the permissible emission levels are 65 hatridge units, we are trying to go a step ahead to 55 units,'' MTC Managing Director C.T. Meyyaippan told The Hindu. Last year, MTC inducted 150 Euro II-compliant buses. Any vehicle more than eight years old would be overhauled. The average age of the 2,773-strong fleet stands at seven years. "Existing vehicles are subjected to emission tests every six months. Each MTC branch now has an assistant engineer to check engines for excess smoke. Complaints from the public are immediately acted upon," Mr. Meyyaippan said. Six computerised emission-testing centres have been set up in MTC depots at Adyar, Alandur, Ayanavaram, Anna Nagar, Vadapalani and Tondiarpet. Complaints about excess smoke emissions can be made by calling 25366063, extension 236.
Air toxicity
Still, MTC buses contribute to only part of the problem of air toxicity in a city like Chennai. A survey done by the transport department in 2003 showed that while the number of two-wheelers had grown by 51 per cent and cars by 47 per cent in the last few years, public transport vehicles went down by 51 per cent. More than two-thirds of the city's vehicles were two-wheelers, which do not have to follow emission norms.
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