File picture of enforcement officials carrying out on-the-spot checks on vehicles

Feb. 10: The state transport department?s enforcement wing has been reportedly doing little to check the pollution caused by city buses, despite claiming to follow a strict monitoring system.

There are nearly 1,100 city buses, including the deluxe buses under the Guwahati Transport Association, plying in the Assam capital. Of the 900 ?ordinary? city buses, 40 per cent are allegedly flouting the pollution-control norms mostly because they in a deplorable condition.

The general secretary of the Auto Emission Testing Station Association, Montu Duarah, said they had jointly conducted emission tests in the city in association with the enforcement department. ?The deteriorating condition of the buses and black fumes from the exhausts are a common sight in Guwahati. After the tests on commercial as well as private vehicles, we found that most of the buses were flouting the norms. There are some long-distance buses, too, that have to be properly checked,? he said.

He said the association has not been able to bring down the pollution level despite ?all the efforts to make private and commercial vehicle owners aware of the situation and consequences of noxious gases in the air?.

The association alleged that the enforcement department has framed several rules for commercial vehicles, but the implementation was lax.

Refuting the allegations, sources in the enforcement department said they issue fitness certificates to buses after examining their condition and emission. The motor vehicle inspector issues the certificate that is valid for a year and can be renewed.

?We carry out strict tests before issuing the certificate. If the vehicle flunks the test, the certificate is never issued or renewed. However, a month?s time is granted to repair the vehicle and the certificate is issued after payment of a fine,? an enforcement official said.

The secretary of the Guwahati Transport Association, Pradip Das, claimed that all the buses in its fold have fitness certificates.

Admitting that a few buses were in a bad condition, he said the vehicles are repaired and undergo full servicing every year after the rainy season.

Several experts said the reason behind the rising pollution level is the presence of old vehicles, high vehicle density in urban centres, inadequate inspection and maintenance facilities and improper traffic management system and road conditions.