After Bengal's clean-air show, KP to double PUC-test kits

Time of India

3 days ago

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Kolkata: The Kolkata Traffic Police has received Rs 1.1 crore from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Friday to buy 30 new machines for measuring air pollution. This acquisition will more than double the city's capacity to monitor vehicle pollution.
The tender process was completed earlier, and the work order has been released, sources said.
All these machines are BS VI compliant. "There are currently 30-odd such machines at the disposal of the Anti Pollution Cell and 25 other traffic guards, all of them procured by KP around 11 years ago. But these are BS IV compliant, although BS VI-compliant vehicles have begun to hit the city," an officer said. Cops said they made the pitch in 2023 to get these machines, but various technical issues delayed their delivery through KMC.
A Kolkata Police officer said the specific number of machines required by KP on the ground was determined after a survey. "While the plan is to give one machine to each guard, we are also planning to keep around seven machines for the AP Cell and the Special Raids section," an officer said. However, KP's plans to play a crucial role in improving the city's air will not be limited to checking vehicles for pollution. "At a time when Kolkata's air has got cleaner, Kolkata Police and other stakeholders are expected to get a larger share of grants to continue the good work.
Some other proposals where KP can play a prominent role were also discussed in a recent meeting under the National Clean Air Programme," a source said.
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Cops said they are procuring 30 more smoke meters to ramp up pollution tests across all guards. Special raids are being conducted against polluting vehicles, and the amended Motor Vehicles rules that attract enhanced fines are being enforced — violation of pollution norms invites a penalty of Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 1,000.
Sources said the target date to bring down air pollution to a pre-set target level ends next year. "To achieve the goals by next year, yearly targets and missions were calibrated in the meeting," said a source.
In 2023, Kolkata Police also proposed a Rs 31 crore equipment list — consisting of two Remote Sensing Devices, each worth Rs 3 crore; 400 licence reader cameras that use AI to identify public vehicles older than 15; and four drones to monitor garbage burning — in an effort to control air pollution in the city.
The proposals have been submitted to KMC and other civic bodies.
The development comes at a time when the state is prioritising pollution control in the city. Cops said their studies have shown three reasons for a rise in pollution, and all can be reversed through technical evaluation. "We found that a spurt in private vehicles and resultant slow traffic, coupled with old vehicles continuing to ply, and the burning of garbage, are all contributing to pollution" said an officer.