VET program gets teeth

Thursday, 14 November 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Much maligned by motorists for making it mandatory, the Vehicle Emission Testing (VET) program has finally found the means to prove its worth; a mobile ambient air quality monitoring unit worth Rs. 30 million purchased with funds from the VET Trust Fund. Started in 2008, vehicle emission testing is now mandatory for all vehicles, except agricultural land vehicles such as tractors and armed force

vehicles which are not obligated to, due to the absence of a revenue license. Commissioner General of Motor Traffic S.H. Harischandra and Project Director of the Vehicle Emission Testing program A.W. Dissanayake commented on the subject at an interview held at Asia Foundation this October Clearly delighted with the new acquisition, VET Project Director Dissanayake eagerly described its functions. “It monitors Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Water Vapour(H2O), Carbon Monoxide(CO) and Nitrous Oxide Gases (Nox) content and the percentage of Particulate Matter (PM) in cities,” he said. “Regular readings of changes in air quality are compared with baseline data for 2008 which we have in hand” he explained. “Now, we can accurately measure and compare quality of ambient air.” Vehicle population rise A rise of 33% witnessed in the vehicle population since 2010 must have an impact on ambient air, but current readings indicate that it has remained consistent over most cities in this period. While it is difficult to isolate vehicle emission testing as the single positive contributor, it is a happy state of affairs as far the is environment concerned. Still, in their opinion, much remains undone. “We must be vigilant. The monitoring unit by itself will not solve all problems. In fact, the Motor Traffic Dept, Ministry of Environment, Central Environment Authority, Department of Measurements, Units, Standards & Services and the VET Program carry out ongoing education and awareness programs throughout the country regularly,” he said. Over 3,000 Army, Navy and Air Force Transport Officers participated in awareness programs conducted at Visum Paya, Wyerama Mawatha, Colombo 7. Three-wheeler drivers and bus drivers too have participated in such programs. At District Level, the Ministry of Environment and Examiners of Motor Vehicles receive guidance and direction. Stringent measures For all that, reports of obtaining test certificates by other means appear in news. Commissioner General Harischandra accepted it had been possible but several recent measures make it much harder now. “Firstly, from our networked control centre in Colombo, we can monitor every test carried out at any VET centre in the island. The central database also contains a photograph of the tested vehicle. The test certificate must be in your vehicle at all times now. “It is no longer only for obtaining the revenue licence. Given that the police are now empowered to check VET test certificates, carrying a false test report is a big risk and year-long liability,” he said. The vehicle emission testing centres themselves have not escaped scrutiny forcing them to tighten up. From 340 VET centres currently operating, stringent regulations have been introduced to evade any malpractices from occurring. Commissioner of Motor Traffic said a concerted and nationwide effort towards creating awareness was already on the cards, awaiting launch shortly. “Ultimately, the purpose of all these efforts is to keep the air we breathe clean and fresh. The ambient air quality monitoring unit serves the useful purpose of providing that information,” he concluded.