Number of candidates: 508
Number of successful candidates: 507
Source: June report card of Council Service Station

Only one out of the 508 diesel-driven vehicles that rolled into the Diamond Harbour Road pollution-under-control (PUC) centre last month failed the auto emission test.

Lies, damn lies and statistics ? the age-old saying is coming true in the context of auto emission test results for diesel-driven vehicles in the city.

?Vehicular pollution can be attributed to problems in engine, quality of fuel, lack of maintenance and overloading. That?s why half the diesel-driven vehicles ? primarily commercial ones ? can seldom pass an auto emission test,? explained Asim Banerjee, secretary, auto emission testing association.

Try telling that to the Council Service Station or so many other PUC centres in Calcutta doling out pass certificate by the dozens.

Metro had last Saturday exposed a scam involving false auto emission certificates from PUC centres. A diesel-driven, smoke-belching Tata Sumo was gifted Grade A emission certificates at two PUC centres without the vehicle even being put to test.

PVD estimates suggest that of 10 lakh-plus vehicles in the city, more than two lakh run on diesel, most of which are commercial vehicles, like buses, minibuses, taxis and various goods vehicles.

?The level of maintenance in commercial vehicles is generally poor. If tests are carried out properly, 60 per cent of these vehicles will not be able to clear the tests, and that?s why fudging is rampant for diesel-driven vehicles,? said S.M. Ghosh, whose petition on pollution in Calcutta was disposed of last week.

The fudging fact sheet has an economic by-line as well. ?In most cases, customers refuse to pay up if their vehicles fail to pass the tests,? rued John Mukherjee of Uma Service Station, at Dhakuria.

To minimise the chances of refusal of payment, around 50 per cent of diesel-driven vehicles are turned away, as they don?t stand a chance of clearing the tests. They then invariably end up in PUC centres where a pass certificate suits both examiner and examinee.

So, while an Uma Service Station hosts just 86 diesel-driven vehicles a month, a Council Service Station draws 500-plus.

?The difference indicates that vehicle-owners prefer centres where success is assured,? summed up a PVD official.