WHILE an ever-thickening blanket of smog over the capital bears a strong testimony to an administrative failure to curb air-pollution, the special mobile traffic unit such as the one this paper on Friday front-paged a report on (Pollution patrol in peril. December 10) speaks of indifference to the very issue. Why have the authorities installed such an undermanned and underfunded unit to monitor and detain air-polluting vehicles remains anyone's guess. The mobile unit, apparently comprising a few DMP constables and officials from the Department of Environment and BRTA. is a laughing stock, to say the least. While most of the vehicles ignore its signal to stop, those which do simply get away with an easily removable sticker and delible warning seal on the route permit. Even worse, the unit appears unable, or unauthorised, to take any punitive measures against defaulting vehicles, even in the case of fake driver's licence and other documents. Besides, the traffic sergeants do not appear forthcoming either in its assistance. On the whole, there is no reason whatsoever to believe that the unit would make any difference in the air-pollution scenario, unless, of course, the authorities decide to reinforce it by way of assigning more power and authority.

To make things work in this direction, the authorities must invest more in the unit, in terms of logistic and manpower support, that too. not in quantitative but qualitative consideration. There should be involvement of people who can exercise their authority on the spot. In other words, the unit needs quite a few sergeants on duty to muster respect and, even, fear from the recalcitrant among drivers of auto-rickshaws, maxis, tempos, minibuses, trucks, etc. Besides, there appears to be a serious lack of co-ordination between the agencies involved. Above all, the unit must be allowed to work without fear or favour. To that effect, it must enjoy maximum administrative support all the way. from the road to the court.