KOLKATA: The extension of the validity of pollution undercontrol certificate ( PUC ) from six months to a year for BS IV vehicles, which were registered after April 2010, evoked a mixed reaction in Kolkata. While private bus owners and a section of commuters welcomed the move, environmentalists feared it will lead to a major spike in pollution since many BS-II compliant vehicles were registered after 2010 .The Auto Emission Testing Centres ( AETCs ) are also charging 18% GST, which is the highest GST slab, which environmentalists said, would discourage motorists to comply with the emission norms. The city has a pathetic compliance rate — only 20% of the city’s vehicles undergo emission tests.The emission test in the city is not without its pitfalls. “Most of the AETCs got their licences renewed by the pollution control board withour having their machine calibrated and software upgraded. It means the readings these machines show are always questionable,” said auto emission consultant Somendra Mohan Ghosh.Moreover, the emission tests in the city, said Ghosh, is not foolproof. The testers, who are not qualified enough, often manipulate machines to bring out PUC for vehicles which can never comply the emission norms. “If the software logistic of the machine is tampered with, even highly polluting vehicles will pass the test,” said Ghosh. He alleged that majority of the AETCs have got their software logistics tampered with but the pollution control board does not bother to check.Many commuters felt the move will help save time. “Going for a check for my new car every six months doesn’t make sense. The move has come as a relief for me,” said Rajib Datta, a resident of Ultadanga. IT employee Sandipan Chakraborty echoed: “Often I forget to get my car checked. Now that it has become a yearly exercise, I will get it done in time.”

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