Recommendations on curbing air pollution in the city

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) had commissioned a high-power advisory committee last year to address pollution issues in the city which is getting intense with time. The committee has recently submitted its report and recommendations on curbing vehicular pollution which happens to be a major cause of pollution in the city. The report has been prepared by Bhargab Maitra, professor of Civil Engineering department at IIT Kharagpur and consists of 16 pages. It states both long term and short term actions which might be able to keep the pollution levels in the city in check. The report was submitted to Municipal Commissioner Khalil Ahmed and based on this the KMC will prepare an action plan shortly. The report suggests that the state should ensure that all vehicles plying in the city must have PUC (Pollution Under Control). The Transport department should collaborate with Kolkata Police’s Traffic Department to take actions against the vehicle that do not have the PUC, the report suggested. The number of on-road inspection posts for vehicular emission should be enhanced substantially in order to track these vehicles. The report strictly mentions that there should be mandatory checking facility for commercial vehicles entering the city to restrict vehicles without PUC. Along with these, the report also focuses on public awareness on this issue which might help to make the situation better.