Over the past few years, the pollution caused by vehicles has gone up dramatically in Jammu with the rise in number of vehicle population. This has brought many other problems and the worst is the growing cases of asthma in children and young ones who are exposed to the pollution. The emission level over the years especially from diesel and petrol vehicles, old and outlived ones that use adulterated fuel have almost risen over 30 per cent. Of the over 10 lakh vehicle population in Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu accounts for over five lakh vehicles adding nearly over 40,000 every year. But unfortunately infrastructure has not kept pace with the growing vehicle population leading to traffic jams and congestions with motorists spending more time on the road waiting for clearance of these bottlenecks rather than the actual driving time. Notwithstanding the fact that air pollution in the State is increasing with the increase in the number of vehicles and remains a matter of serious concern for one and all, the departments which are required to check fuel adulteration have not been fulfilling their duties on the pretext of lack of manpower and equipment. More interestingly, the environment management has not found a proper place in the planning of the State till date despite the fact that Jammu and Kashmir has already been declared as Air Pollution Control Zone under the Air (Prevention and Control) Act, 1981. Though the Traffic Police Department admits that air and noise pollution are the outcome of the vehicular traffic and adulterated fuel is being used in the commercial vehicles, which in turn pollute the environment but it has shrugged its responsibility on the ground. In this direction a recent National Green Tribunal directive in the national capital can be taken as a guideline. The tribunal has directed that vehicles more than 15 years old shall not be permitted to run which means a major chunk of commercial vehicles would be of the road. It is not that there are no pollution control norms especially auto pollution in Jammu and Kashmir but there are no sincere efforts by the concerned agencies. Since the infrastructure growth is slow as compared to vehicle population what is needed is government should come out with some alternative commuting system so that people are discouraged from using personal vehicles which can also help in decongesting city roads and some of the main points.
