Pollution spiking; RTC buses major culprits

Hyderabad: With the kind of smoke being emitted by the Road Transport Corporation RTC buses, the State’s fight against pollution and implementing green initiatives is proving to be a damp squib. Emitting heavy amount of smoke, the city buses are adding to the pollution levels in the city. Poor vehicle maintenance is one of the prime reasons for dense smoke. Ineffective rules and guidelines, lack of monitoring and enforcement from the corporation is encouraging the officials to continue the practices.

This is a common problem in the buses given by Central government under JNNURM scheme almost a decade ago. These buses crawl on roads across the city discharging smoke causing inconvenience to citizens. There have been galore of complaints of skin allergy and several others due to petroleum carbon.
Naren, a delivery boy, says "The smoke released by RTC buses is too dangerous for health. Traffic police only fine small vehicles for pollution while they do not bother to check the RTC buses. I face lot of difficulties to ride while bus passing in front of me." Expressing her anger on pollution, Renuka, a science student, said "These buses are causing skin irritation, hair fall, and many more disorders related to lung and breathing. Authorities need to take necessary steps and must ban old buses to curb the pollution which also contributes in increasing the global warming."

The traffic police are also not serious to check the polluted buses, not a single challan is issued to such buses. When The Hans India questioned Chandra Shekhar, a sub inspector of traffic police at Miyapur, whether the department has right to fine buses producing smoke? he replied, yes we have right to check and fine RTC buses too but we have not done yet. On the pollution being spread by the government buses, RTC Divisional Manager (Hyderabad), Khusro Shah Khan said that the buses go to service a per the schedule, regularly. And any damaged parts including the engine are changed if any need arises. Moreover, he said that buses are put to service only after getting fitness certificate and approved by the Road Transport Authorities.