Political blessings allow autos to pollute Kolkata

Govt documents show that months ago some ministers had sabotaged all efforts of the HC and the Govt to bring down the pollution levels.

Even as the green lobby of Kolkata is up in arms against Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee for fighting against the ouster of over 30,000 polluting auto rickshaws,the Government documents show that months ago,some ministers had done the groundwork for Mamata by sabotaging all efforts of the High Court and the Government to bring down the pollution levels in the state capital.

In March 2006,the Environment Department took its first step against polluting vehicles plying on Kolkata’s roads by ordering that no diesel-operated vehicle will be allowed to buy fuel without producing a valid PUC (pollution-under control) certificate each time. Vehicle operators,in connivance with fuel station owners,roped in CPI(M) leader and Transport Minister Subhas Chakraborty,who is also the leader of the various transport sector trade unions,to get around the Environment Department’s order. The minister then reportedly put pressure on the department,headed by Sailen Sarkar,another CPI(M) leader. Within two months,the department cancelled its earlier notification,citing “changed circumstances”.

“In view of the changed circumstances,’no PUC no fuel’ policy of the Government,is presently kept in abeyance until further order,” the department said in order No S/EN/1143/202/2008.

Story continues below this ad

The ‘changed circumstances’,according to the note-sheet forwarded by Sarkar on April 28,2008,was a request from Chakraborty to Sarkar to keep in mind the interests of the petroleum dealers and transport operators.

Incidentally,the Environment Department’s first notice was issued by Principal Secretary M L Meena on March 4,2008,following a High Court order of March 2004,issued for this purpose. The notice,cancelling this,was issued by an officer in the same department,Joint Secretary D K Agasty.

The court,in its order,had called upon the “appropriate authorities” to take steps against polluting vehicles and ensure that emission norms are followed strictly.

Meena,in his order,had said: “It is observed that a large number of vehicles are operating without statutory PUC certificate,which is an essential ingredient for all vehicles as an evidence of their meeting the emission norms.”

Story continues below this ad

Cancelling this notification,Awasthi had noted: “As per the advice and approval of the competent authorities,operation of the order is presently kept in abeyance.”

With Mamata Banerjee’s agitation forcing the state Government to rescind its ban on two-stroke autorickshaws,officials in the Environment Department are upset with the way a notification issued under the orders of the High Court has been cancelled by an officer much junior to the Principal Secretary.

As the pollution in the city increases,citizens now have two options: First to back the CPI(M)-led state Government,ignoring the fact that it was this Government’s ministers who thwarted major steps to clean up the air. Two,support Mamata,whose agitation might ensure that over 60,000 auto rickshaws continue to ply illegally and further pollute the city.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram