Needless to say, the DSP Shimla traffic police and HP Pollution Control Board are answerable for such ignorance by the officials under their command. We would like to forward this issue Shimla SP, DW Negi, and ask him to take some time from beating and abusing HPU students, and pay attention to the issue.

SHIMLA- Ecology, environmental balance, nature, climate change, global warming, green house effect, air pollution, emissions, do any of these words sounds familiar to you? We doubt. most of the people, irrespective to their educational background, do not realize the environmental crisis the humanity is creating. Of course, today, we would like to throw some light on one of these issues – emission from vehicles, and surprising carelessness on the part of the HP Pollution Control Board, Shimla traffic police, and the public itself.

Take a look at this video before we continue further.

Let’s note bore you with a lecture on environmental issues, but come to the point – rising levels of air pollution in Shimla, completely unchecked by any of the responsible Govt. authority including the Govt. itself. Obviously, we have no doubt about the share of ignorance on the part of the public.

The condition is critical considering the fact that Shimla used to be the most referred hill station with healthy environment and pure air. Now, Shimla is losing that serenity and chastity of breathable air, especially if you in the Shimla city. Now, more vehicles crawl on Shimla roads. The city is expanding; population is increasing, and with it increases the number of vehicles. This year, the number is even higher as tourists turned towards Himachal due to recent flood in Shrinagar, which paralyzed its infrastructure.

Take a look at one more video

Traffic jams are hitting Shimla city roads everyday. Govt. didn’t make any preparation for readying parking spaces, so the situation is getting even uglier.

On the top of all, the pollution is rising due to higher emissions. Not just tourist vehicles, but local ones area also creating more hazardous condition. Old, decaying, and poorly maintained (or say not maintained at all) HRTC buses and that of private bus service providers are running unchecked on Shimla roads, literally spraying dense, constant stream of smoke.

Emissions from vehicles running on petroleum fuel are the most toxic ones and contains Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5), Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Air Toxics like benzene, 1,3-butadiene, acrolein, formaldehyde and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and the coolants in vehicles using Freon, an ozone depleting substance, as a refrigerant.

If people think only environment is facing the damage, then it’s very idiotic perception. The quality of breathable air is decaying, the pattern of snowfall and rain is hit, it’s changing, and effecting agricultural occupations in Himachal, where agriculture is the biggest economy after tourism.

The Shimla traffic police gives its best to ensure traffic free road for the vehicles of VVIP politicians, high-rank Govt. officials, and those from Judiciary. A whole traffic plan would be changed if the Z + security fleet of Chief Justice of HP High Court is halted for even a minute in a traffic jam. No offence, but that does happen. But, the same traffic police let polluting vehicles rampantly run on Shimla streets. Pollution control board is not even in the scene. Everyone is completely blind when it comes to emission trouble.

What does the law say:

“Sub-rule (7) of Rule 115 mentioned under Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 says, “after expiry of a period of one year from the date on which the motor vehicle was first registered, every such vehicle shall carry a valid “Pollution under control” certificate issued by an agency authorized for this purpose by the State Government. The validity of the certificate shall be for six months or any lesser period as may be specified by the State Government from time to time.

If the certificate referred to in Sub-rule (1) is not produced within the stipulated period of seven days or if the vehicle fails to comply with the provisions of Sub-rule (2) of rule 115 within a period of seven days, the owner of the vehicle shall be liable for the penalty prescribed under Sub-section (2) of Section 190 of the Act.”

HRTC buses top the list of poorly maintained buses, then come the private bus operator followed by rest of the public including the tourist vehicles. Look at the buses and cars in the videos. The traffic police don’t need to stop them and ask for pollution check- certificate. Anyone with a normal eyesight could see heavy stream of smoke pumped out of exhaust. Sometimes, the buses/cars right ahead you make it difficult see the road as the quantity of dense emissions disrupt the visibility.

Why no one is worried at such a disastrous mistake as ignoring a critical environmental concern -air pollution. We are literally on the highway to hell. Littering, improper garbage disposal, emission and burning garbage, especially plastic waste, in open spaces are haunting our heaven like Shimla.

Needless to say, the DSP Shimla traffic police and HP Pollution Control Board are answerable for such ignorance by the officials under their commandWe would like to forward this issue Shimla SP, DW Negi, and ask him to take some time from beating and abusing HPU students, and pay attention to the issue.

Of course, it’s a waste of time to expect a reaction to our criticism from the Govt., transport minister, the CM, or any political figure holding a chair in the Govt. They behave like masters and the public accept it like fearful slaves. No one is bothered to correct the malfunctioning democracy. The representatives elected by the people are not doing their job. In that case, the public has to react and ask for explanation for not doing what they had promised to them – better Himachal.

However, such suggestion sounds like a south-Indian movie dialogue. Who the hell could do that – make the Govt. answerable or dare to criticize them? We don’t blame them. They are too conscious to invite a VVIP trouble when they struggle to ensure a survival.

If not all, then those who are fortunate enough to have a smartphone camera and access to Internet, please, do not ignore such critical issues like air pollution.

You see a vehicle spitting out smoke, click a photograph or record a video and send it on editor[at]himachalwatcher[dot]com or you can post it directly into HW’s Your News section for instant publishing. You can choose to be anonymous while posting anything if you aren’t comfortable to disclose your identity. Not only emission, but there are a lot of other public grievances which need attention from us.