The Meghalaya government is yet to wake up from slumber and take on vehicles that emit high amount of pollution especially black smokes. Many vehicles that emitted pollution were bypassing the eyes of authorities in Meghalaya.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its report had also revealed that out of a total of 2, 63,541 vehicles registered in Meghalaya, only 26,029 (11 per cent) got their vehicle emissions tested during the period from 2011-12 to 2015-16.
It was pointed out that failure of the Meghalaya government to set up auto emission testing stations has posed a serious threat to the environment especially air quality.
The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board was operating only one auto emission testing stations in the entire state from April 2011 to March 2016.
Transport minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said that tenders would be invited soon for making auto emission testing stations operational in the state in order to regulate vehicles that emit high amount of pollution.
Dhar said that a cabinet memo has been prepared by his department so that matter could be taken up in the next meeting of the state cabinet.
The minister admitted that many vehicles were plying on the roads without undergoing for periodical testing of the limit value of smoke.
In other states, auto emission testing stations were set up in many places with a view to create a vehicular pollution free environment.
The auto emission testing stations are meant for periodical testing of the limit value of smoke emitted through motor vehicles engine and issue pollution under control certificate.
The CAG report also stated that due to non-setting up of adequate auto emission testing stations, 2, 11,780 vehicles were plying in Meghalaya without necessary pollution under control certificates causing a major threat to the environment.
“Besides, the government was also deprived of revenue due from pollution testing fees,” the report said.