The Agro Climate Research Centre rightly put it that the rise in the overall temperature of the city was to be attributed to the increase in the number of vehicles in Coimbatore. On the other side, more alarmingly, the awareness to check the pollution emission of their vehicles has largely declined in the city.

The sight of vehicles emitting dark coal like smoke has become a very common thing in the city. Yet, the issue had hardly concerned the transport department and the steps taken by them to even check for pollution certificates are invisible.

According to the Central Motor Vehicle Rule 115, motor vehicles must regularly check the emission of gases and the percentage pollutants like carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) every six month. The vehicles should start checking immediately after one year after rate of registration.

While the rule is considerably followed in nearby States including Kerala and Karnataka, Nilgris seem to be the only District in Tamil Nadu, where traffic police ask for emission certificates, which would seem a new thing for vehicle users from Coimbatore and neighbouring districts.

According to persons running emission testing centres in the city, only a few vehicle users follow the norms and undergo emission test.

“We get only around 25 vehicles each day, though there are more than lakhs of vehicles on the road without certificates,” said K. Selvam, owner of one of the testing centres near Pappanaickenpalayam.

He further opined that the responsibility lies with the department to spread awareness among the public regarding pollution check, adding that people only checked for pollution emission when they needed to go back to the transport department for some needs.

The emission testing charges for two Wheeler is Rs. 50, light motor vehicle Rs. 100, and Rs. 150 for heavy motor vehicles and number of emission testing centre is not even close to drawing a comparison with the number of vehicles.

There are only 18 emission testing centres in Coimbatore, but as of 2015 along, 22740 vehicles have been newly registered along with the lakhs which are already occupying the streets.

Yet, the business is not gainful for the ones running emission testing centres.

“Forget our business, imaging the health hazards that the gases emitted by the vehicles would cause to human beings. There is Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxide, Hydrocarbon, Sulphur dioxide, and other greenhouse gasses that could cause chronic health diseases,” warned Devaraj, another owner.

“These gases directly cause problems to the brain and lungs damaging them both. The conversion of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide reduces HB level and oxygen in the blood, this leads to earlier mortality,” said Dr. R. Viji Vinayak from Coimbatore.

However, he added that only one out of hundred faced the problem.

Meanwhile, a higher official from the Transport department said that department was conducting regular checks for pollution emission.