CleanCo, Laugfs to implement vehicle testing

RAMANI KANGARAARACHCHI

CleanCo Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and Laugfs Eco Sri (Pvt) Ltd have been selected to implement the vehicle emission testing programme from April 2008.

The companies will invest Rs. one billion and Rs. 500 million each to get down testing machines and set up a total of 66 fixed and mobile testing stations islandwide including the North and East. Each company will set up 16 fixed testing stations and 17 mobile test stations and will issue the VET (vehicle emission test ) certificates.

It is compulsory for vehicle owners to obtain the VET certificate from one of these two companies to renew their revenue licences from next year.

A fee of Rs. 200 to Rs. 850 will be charged depending on the vehicle category from motorcycles to heavy trucks. The launch of the "Vehicle Emissions Testing Programme of Sri Lanka" was held at the BMICH yesterday. It was organised by the Department of Motor Traffic.

Commissioner of Motor Traffic B. Wijeratne said the motor vehicle population in Sri Lanka is estimated to reach 2.4 million by 2008 and serious environmental consequences are expected as a result of this growth specially with regard to air pollution. The reduction of fuel consumption by one per cent by way of emission control could save Rs. one billion for the nation annually.

Wijeratne said the transport sector accounts for nearly two thirds of the country's fossil fuel consumption and is the main cause of urban air pollution resulting in fast deteriorating air quality in the main cities of the country.

Unless it is monitored and regulated , the damage for healthy existence of living beings could be alarming in the near future.

The Government has taken a policy decision to regulate vehicle emission and fuel standards and thereby mitigate this mounting threat to public health. The Emission Testing Programme tests vehicle emissions to identify the most polluting vehicles. It requires these vehicles to be repaired so that their emissions are reduced.

Vehicle emission testing is to ensure that the atmosphere is free from poisonous gases, so that people are protected. Vehicle testing will be a governmental legal requirement shortly.

The main objective of the emissions test programme is to give clean breathing air to the future generations. According to statistics of Motor Traffic Department there are 2.4 millon registered vehicles in the country out of which 1.9 million are operational. Sixty per cent of these vehicles are operating within the Colombo Economic Zone.