Sheriff’s anti-pollution drive to zero in on vehicle owners

April 10: Chief Justice M B Shah of the Bombay High Court will administer oath to over 600 transporters affiliated to the Maharashtra Rajya Truck, Tempo, Tankers, Bus Vahatuk Sangh, to maintain their vehicles pollution-free at a public meeting at Chinch Bunder, Reay Road on April 16.

The function will also mark the inauguration of a month-long `Pollution Control Campaign’ by city sheriff Kulwant Singh Kohli. This function will be followed by an exhibition highlighting transporters’ role in ensuring minimum levels of pollution. All 275 Pollution Under Control centres in Mumbai have agreed to check vehicles and issue free PUC certificates on seven days with effect from April 22. The checking camps will be organised from 9 am to 6 am at Khodadad Circle (April 22 and 23), Hutatma Chowk (April 29 and 30), Diamond Gardens in Chembur (May 6 and 7),, Bandra west (May 13 and 14), and Nariman Point (May 20 and 21).

The first centre will be inaugurated at Khodadad Circle. An officer of the Transport Commissioner’soffice will be posted at each centre. “We will stop vehicles at random and will check their emission levels. If any vehicle is found to be polluting, the vehicle’s registration papers will be stamped by an official seal of the Transport Commissioner and RTA. The vehicle owner will have to obtain a PUC certificate within seven days, or he will be penalised as per pollution control laws,” Kohli said. The campaign has been co-sponsored by the Giant’s International, Bank of Baroda, Green Mumbai and several other NGOs.