MVD issues warning

The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has warned that the licences of agencies giving pollution clearance certificates for vehicles using pirated software will be cancelled.

Deputy Transport Commissioner M.P. Ajith Kumar said in a release that the initiative was part of the month-long ‘Clean Air Ernakulam’ programme. Special squads led by K.M. Shaji, RTO (Enforcement), will be deployed from May 1 in the district to check such violations. All pollution testing centres in the district will come under the scanner.

Show-cause notices will be issued to agencies found flouting rules. Replies should be submitted within seven days. The licence to operate will be suspended for three months as a first step. It will be extended to six months, if the violators fail to correct the anomalies in issuing pollution certificates.

The department will ask the police to initiate criminal proceedings, if they repeat the offence. Nearly 100 pollution testing centres are functioning in Ernakulam. Official estimates suggest that only 10% of the centres follow rules.