A District Level Taskforce consisting of Police, Transport, Food and Pollution Departments has been formed to effectively tackle pollution related issues in the district. The creation of this task force comes in the wake of State Government directive to all districts to have such task force that would lead to more meaningful approach to the problem.
On 07-12-20005, a meeting of the Task Force was held in the office of the Supdt of Police which was attended by Mr.Lokesh Kumar, Addl. Superintendent of Police D.K, Mr.S.M Mantoor DySP Mangalore Sub Division, Mr.Ramesh RTO Mangalore, Mr.G.K.Rajanna Dy Director Food and Civil Supply Department Mangalore, Mr.K.M.Chandra Shekar CPI Traffic Mangalore, Mr.Mohan Krishna Environmental Officer Pollution Control Board Mangalore. The meeting was chaired by Mr.B.Dayananda SP DK. During this meeting, the various dimensions of the problem of pollution especially vehicular pollution were discussed threadbare and an Action Plan drawn to take the problem head-on. The main points of this Action Plan are;
On 07-12-20005, a meeting of the Task Force was held in the office of the Supdt of Police which was attended by Mr.Lokesh Kumar, Addl. Superintendent of Police D.K, Mr.S.M Mantoor DySP Mangalore Sub Division, Mr.Ramesh RTO Mangalore, Mr.G.K.Rajanna Dy Director Food and Civil Supply Department Mangalore, Mr.K.M.Chandra Shekar CPI Traffic Mangalore, Mr.Mohan Krishna Environmental Officer Pollution Control Board Mangalore. The meeting was chaired by Mr.B.Dayananda SP DK. During this meeting, the various dimensions of the problem of pollution especially vehicular pollution were discussed threadbare and an Action Plan drawn to take the problem head-on. The main points of this Action Plan are;
- To conduct periodic emission checking of all vehicles and ensure that the emission levels are below permissible levels. As per Indian Motor Vehicles Act, it is mandatory for all motor vehicle users to conduct emission checks every six months and keep the certificate in this regard.
- To organise emission checking camps for all Government vehicles of the district twice a year - on the occasion of Republic Day and Independence Day in the district regularly in future.
- To conduct periodic checking of petrol bunks for adulteration of fuel.
- To collect information and organise joint raids on illegal outlets which sell adulterated fuel (Petrol/Diesel) in loose form.
- To organise massive drive against diversion of LPG cooking cylinders for motor vehicles which is an offence under law. As per the Motor Vehicles Act, vehicle owners who want to run their vehicles on gas have to have specific permission in this regard and should install authorised gas kits for the purpose in their vehicles. However it is noticed that many vehicles are plying with domestic LPG instead of approved gas kits. This becomes an offence and action will be initiated as per law which prescribes penalty and seizure of the vehicles and the gas cylinders.
- In order to curb noise pollution, Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000 and the consequent Supreme Court Judgements will be enforced strictly in the district. The Pollution control Board will be measuring the decibel levels of noise at various places and report to the Police Department. As per the Environment Protection Act 1986, sound exceeding prescribed noise limits of a particular public area constitutes an offence and is punishable with 5 years imprisonment or with fine of Rs.1 Lakhs or both.
- Use of Loud speakers in public places shall be regulated as per Rule (5) of the Noise Pollution Rules 2000 and the Supreme Court Judgements in this regard. Accordingly, loud speaker users should obtain written permission from the Police authorities compulsorily. Loud speakers should not be used at night between 10 pm and 06 am except in close premises for communication within e.g. auditorium, conference rooms, community halls and banquet halls. Even while using the loud speakers legally and during the permissible hours, it should be ensured that the noise decibel level does not go beyond what is prescribed for that area.
- To involve the NGOs which are advocating the cause of pollution and other resource persons actively in the activities of the task force.
- To create public awareness about the ill effects of pollution by organising camps periodically throughout the district.
Based on this action plan, the concerned departments have already swung into action by conducting joint drives and inspections. On 09-12-2005 in Mangalore City in a drive against vehicle owners using domestic gas cylinders, the task force has detected 10 cases. Action has been taken against the vehicle owners of these ten vehicles by imposing penalty and seizing the gas cylinders.
The Mangalore City Traffic Police is taking strict action against Bus Operators using vacuum/shrill horns in their vehicles causing severe irritation and distraction to other road users besides causing noise pollution. They have already booked 1722 such cases during this year in this regard and have also removed such type of horns from the vehicles concerned.
The drive will be continued relentlessly in the future days also In this regard, the public is requested to inform any such incidents of vehicles causing pollution, unauthorised use of loud speakers…etc to any of the members of this task force. The contact details of the officers concerned are given below;
The Mangalore City Traffic Police is taking strict action against Bus Operators using vacuum/shrill horns in their vehicles causing severe irritation and distraction to other road users besides causing noise pollution. They have already booked 1722 such cases during this year in this regard and have also removed such type of horns from the vehicles concerned.
The drive will be continued relentlessly in the future days also In this regard, the public is requested to inform any such incidents of vehicles causing pollution, unauthorised use of loud speakers…etc to any of the members of this task force. The contact details of the officers concerned are given below;
Mr. B.Dayananda SP DK 2220503 (O) 9448130100 (Mob)
Mr. B.S.Lokesh Kumar Addl. SP DK Ph: 2220505 (O) 9845689500 (Mob)
Mr. S.M Mantoor Dy SP Mangalore City Ph: 2220514 (O) 9448222244 (Mob)
Mr. Chandrashekar CPI Traffic Ph: 2220523 (O) 9448142435 (Mob)
Mr. Ramesh RTO Mangalore Ph: 2423476 (O) 9448346242 (Mob)
Mr. G.K Rajanna DD Food Ph: 2420101 (O)
Mr. Mohan Krishna Environmental Officer Ph: 2406586 (O)
