News
Smoke emission tests twice a year
Motor vehicles will be subjected to smoke emission tests twice a year, instead of the current annual checks under a new gazette regulation which is due to come into effect in March, Motor Traffic Commissioner S.H. Harishchandra said yesterday.
The move is part of a campaign to improve air quality after a survey revealed that strict checks on vehicle emissions had helped to improve the air quality in main towns.
Mr. Harischandra said that with the increase in the frequency of the test the department would also be introducing stricter checks on the vehicles by reducing the cut-off point of emission levels to pass the test.
“We believe that when the new standards come into effect at least 15 per cent of the vehicles will have to be adjusted as their emissions will be higher than the permitted levels,” he said.
The Environmental Ministry jointly with the Motor Traffic Department and the Moratuwa University had carried out the survey in Colombo and other main towns to ascertain the air quality.
The Commissioner said they will also step up checks on emission testing centres which were now run by the private sector and also carry out random checks on vehicles which had passed the test at the private centres.
He said the new gazette regulation would enable the RMV to file action against a vehicle owner if there was photographic evidence to prove that extra smoke was being emitted. After filing action, the vehicle owner would be summoned to courts and the vehicle would be tested.
He said the RMV on its own would carry out random tests on vehicles.