Lax laws

the West Bengal government has asked auto-emission testing centres in the city to only measure carbon monoxide levels in exhaust fumes of vehicles. Thus, it has ignored the provisions of the Environmental (Protection) rules framed by the Centre. The schedule states that vehicles must not emit nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons beyond levels stated in the gazette notification. The test centres issue Pollution Under Control ( puc ) certificates to vehicles every six months without testing whether they comply with permissible levels of nitrogen monoxide, hydrocarbons and lead emission. Camps set up by Calcutta Police's traffic department to carry out checks on vehicular exhaust also ignore pollutants, besides carbon monoxide.

Environmentalists say that hydrocarbons are more harmful pollutants than carbon monoxide. They say that nitrogen dioxide is an eye irritant and causes respiratory troubles leading to lung diseases. It also contributes to smog formation.