"Ignoring Vehicular Pollution Is A Social Crime"

How cautious are the city residents in preventing negligence? Is it the system to be blamed or the people or the petrol pump owners?
Procuring a pollution-free certificate has become a mockery, at least, many felt.

Officials will be investigating the case, following revelations by TOC. However, people had various views on the matter:

"People should question the authorities. For instance, in Himachal the pollution centre clicks the picture of the vehicle type with its number plate so that there is no discrepancy.

Of course this requires a few bucks more than in the conventional system. We shall be shortly starting this regulatory mechanism," notes Ashwani Sood, petrol pump owner at Sector 22.

Condemning the lackadaisical attitude of the concerned officials and the people themselves, Manmohan Singh Kohli, owner, Hotel Aroma, says, "Ignoring the level of vehicular pollution is a social crime due to which we are forced to breathe death.

The enforcement should not be levelled and leveraged by a monetary fine, but by unbailable imprisonment. There should also be a social
awareness and harassment-free system. The society can only be counselled, but regulation works through enforcement."

Amrit Dhingra, president, Senior Citizens Welfare Association, said, "Of course, people should be educated about such issues.

Such a probe is highly appreciable. More voluntary organisations should be involved in motivating the residents to take a serious action against such carelessness."

Appreciating such an initiative by TOC, Mahinder Singh, president, Environment Awareness and Welfare Association, Sector 27, felt that such ignorance should be penalised.

"This initiative of the media is praiseworthy. It allows the people to be more responsible and vigilant. After all, we are also allowing the environment to become hazardous.

It is for our own betterment that we get our pollution checked every six months. The traffic officials should focus on a clean environment by penalising those who do not believe in getting an authentic vehicular check-up done," he said.