The JSPCB vehicle emission check office surrounded by activists of the Visthapan Virodhi Jan Vikas Andolan. Pix: Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Sept. 10: Hard to buy, but true. Officials responsible for keeping the state capital’s environment clean and green are fighting pollution hazard every day in office.

Deafening noise and nauseating stench emanating from an open drain have made life tough for the officials at the vehicular emission monitoring office of the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) at Albert Ekka Chowk.

Worse, the nearby public toilet and passers-by relieving themselves at the left portion of the office building have multiplied their problem.

In 2005, as part of a public awareness campaign, the state pollution control board opened a camp office in the heart of the city near Albert Ekka Chowk on the Main Road to undertake vehicular emission checks and perform monthly ambient air quality tests.

As per the Motor Vehicles Act, it’s mandatory for all vehicles to undergo emission check for their worthiness every six months.

But on most of the days political parties and social activists occupy the open space in front of the vehicular emission checking office to demonstrate.

As a result, the office remains hidden under giant shamianas put up by the activists while the pollution board employees are forced to cope with endless speech of the leaders over the public address system.

“It is impossible to remain inside the office even for five minutes at a stretch. The noise from the loudspeakers is deafening and at times sickening,” S.K. Kachchap, an official at the emission check office, said.

Records reveal that despite the efforts of the pollution control board, few people care to have their vehicles checked. “Only those four-wheelers that have to cross state borders care to turn up at the centre to obtain a certificate,” said an office staff.

The maximum number of emission checks was found to be in the range of 30 to 40 per month, giving an average of one vehicle per day. The data is alarming, as this is the only emission checkpoint in the district.

Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board member secretary R.K. Sinha stressed that he was collecting the relevant details and that the matter would be taken up with the authorities concerned.