Slamming on the brakes
The Karnataka government has reiterated its commitment to control the growing air pollution in Bangalore. One of the steps it plans to take soon is the banning of 15-year-old transport vehicles in the city. Though no deadline has been set for the same, state transport minister Ramanath Rai has given an assurance that the pledge made in the 2002-2003 state budget would be honoured.
The transport department, the police and state pollution control board have, meanwhile, joined hands to set up 40 special squads to check polluting vehicles. Cases have already been registered against 5,000 private vehicles and 145 government modes of transport for causing air pollution.