PPCB removes pressure horns from over 7, 000 vehicles in eight months

Tribune News Service

Patiala, February 14 

Tightening the noose around illegally installed pressure horns on vehicles, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has removed such horns from around 7,000 buses, trucks and other vehicles across the state from July last year and February this year. 

The PPCB had received as many as 500 complaints about pressure horns. 

Officials said under a special drive, PPCB teams, along with the district traffic police, set up check-posts at several places and removed illegal horns from vehicles, besides issuing challans to them. 

“A majority of pressure horns were removed from buses and trucks,” said officials, adding that many of horns were removed from privately-owned buses and they have been warned of strict action if they are again caught with such horns. 

According to PPCB chairman Kahan Singh Pannu, more than 500 complaints were received on the PPCB helpline and action was taken. “The complaints were mainly about pressure horns on trucks, buses, modified silencers and bullet motorcycles, creating trouble to commuters,” said an official.

The data provided by the PPCB shows that Ludhiana tops the list of violators followed by Bathinda and Jalandhar. 

“We managed to keep a strict check on the practice of using illegal horns due to our regular drive against such loud horns on state and national highways in Punjab,” said Pannu. 

In a notice issued in September last year, the pollution board said anyone manufacturing, selling, purchasing, fitting and using these devices will face imprisonment up to six years after conviction or a fine of Rs 5,000 per day in line with the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. 

The statewide ban was imposed on October 1 last year, keeping in view noise pollution caused by pressure horns and cracker-sound emitting devices installed on motorcycles.