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10.0 CONCLUSIONS
Inspection & Maintenance is no doubt an important tool for reducing exhaust emissions from on-road vehicles but this alone cannot accomplish our air quality goals. Integration of various measures ranging from emission regulations, transport management to fuel quality improvements and I&M has proved to be the best prescription to contain the burgeoning problem of vehicular pollution.
The existing system of I&M in India in fact falls short of its objectives-be it emission reduction or enhancing roadworthiness of vehicles thereby bringing down road accidents. It is time now that the whole system is revamped and a more realistic and scientific system is put in place.
The following points may be referred to while designing the I&M system in India:
«» All categories of vehicles including two wheelers need to be brought under the purview of I&M.
«» System as proposed by SIAM may be put in place in the short run and more realistic system based on dynamometer and short-tests is to be developed in the long run. The test protocol should be such that it is difficult to cheat or bypass the tests.
«» A mechanism of periodic auditing of the I&M centers and practice of quality assurance and quality control should be adopted for increasing reliability of tests and minimizing false passes.
«»
There should be a readily identifiable indication of compliance such as colored
stickers on the vehicles. These stickers should be an integral part of the I&M
system and have a legal binding on the vehicle users.
«»
Campaigns like "No Pollution Week/Pollution month" should be taken up
by the city Government to increase awareness for I&M.
More essentially the overall programme of I&M has to affordable to the vehicle owners. Registration, emission warranty and vehicle recall system should be mandated and linked to I&M to make the programme more comprehensive.
References:
Information
for this publication has been adopted from the proceedings of the UNDESA/UNESCAP
organized "GITE Regional Workshop on I&M in Asia" held in Bangkok,
December 2001 and a training programme on "Automobile & Environment"
held in Japan organized by JICA/JARI.
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