HYDERABAD: Council wants CNG vehicles for rickshaw drivers
By Our Correspondent
HYDERABAD, Feb 26: The district council members have urged the district government to try to provide CNG (compressed natural gas) vehicles to mini taxi and rickshaw owners to check pollution, saying cancellation of registration of the vehicles will lead to joblessness and will not solve the problem.
The council which met on Monday after a three-day gap resumed debate on environmental pollution through smoke-emitting vehicles.
Mohammad Ashraf began his speech from where he had left it on Thursday after Ishtiaq Rajput collapsed due to high blood pressure.
He opposed cancellation of the registration, saying such vehicles were plied by people from low income group. He said that fitness certificates of old vehicles should be renewed after proper examination by the motor vehicle authorities.
Mehboob Abro, on a point of order, drew chair's attention to the fact that no response had been received from the district nazim regarding the DCO's letter about the EDOs' presence in council meetings. Convener Zafar Rajput said that he had reserved the ruling till last day of current session. “Being custodian of the house, I cherish its sanctity the most and will try to protect it”, he said.
Mohammad Ali Gohar referred to burning of rickshaws in Noorani Basti and called for compensation by the district government because the vehicles belonged to poor people. He said that the Sindh government should also be approached for it.
Hussain Bux Hussaini, speaking on a call attention notice, said that law enforcers had failed to control rampage in the Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, following the death of a student. He said the authorities did not take preventive measures though they knew that the student was in a critical condition.
Mohammad Aslam opposed cancellation of registration of vehicles and advised that they should be provided CNG vehicles so that issue of environmental pollution could be addressed. He called for a survey of those vehicles which caused pollution the most.
Participating in discussion from healthcare point of view, Dr Rakshanda said that smoke caused release of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide which were hazardous to human health and led to asthma, therefore, all such unfit vehicles should be heavily fined.
Sajida Baloch raised the issue of pollution caused by factories in union council-16, Site area, and suggested that the factories should be asked to install dust filtration plant.
She said that mill owners should be encouraged to ensure tree plantation in the area to counter environmental pollution.
Ishtiaq Ahmed was critical of working of the motor vehicle inspector and said he performed his duty in a casual manner. He said that the inspector should be called in the council to explain why fitness certificates were issued carelessly.
Rozina Khan said that separate transport services should be introduced for Tandojam because Mirpurkhas-bound vehicles did not carry passengers for Tandojam and resultantly they remained stranded on roads for hours.
Abdullah Shoro supported formation of a committee to hold talks with transporters, police and motor vehicle department for arriving at a consensus how to deal with the pollution issue. He said that use of pressure horns should be strictly disallowed and separate portion be reserved for women in inter-city buses.
Abbas Khan said that regardless of the fact that vehicles were old or new, weak engines caused smoke emission. He said that route permits' process should be made transparent. He said sale of substandard oil was also causing emission of smoke which so far remained unchecked.
