EMA steps up monitoring of vehicles

Post Correspondent
THE Environmental Management Agency has launched a countrywide blitz to identify vehicles excessively emitting carbon monoxide at high opacity rates (darkness of smoke emitted by vehicles). EMA atmospheric pollution control officer, Mr Alpha Chikurira, said the operation was a response to the increase in vehicles in the country and high opacity rate emission by some vehicles, particularly diesel vehicles.

He said the vehicles were now contributing significantly towards the burden of air pollution which has led to deterioration in air quality in most urban settlements throughout the country.

In Mutare during the operation held recently from a total of 150 vehicles tested, 50 were non-compliant and recorded high opacity rates.

“In Harare the data that we have in terms of monitoring air quality reveals that the air quality has drastically deteriorated. We have monitored particulates of sulphur oxides and nitrile oxides which were actually noticed to be above the World Heath Organisation guidelines,” he said.

Mr Chikurira said EMA was guided by Statutory Instrument 72 of 2009, which basically sets a framework for the monitoring of air pollution from industry and motor vehicles.

The SI establishes the minimum standards that are supposed to be emitted by vehicles scrutinising the particulate matter, nitrile oxides, carbon oxides and carbon monoxide using an opacimeter machine, which is able to quantify the level of emission.

Drivers with vehicles that fail to meet the minimum standards can attract a fine of up-to Level Three which is $20 for the first offender and a fine of $300 which is Level Six for a successive offender.

“The thrust of this operation basically is to identify the vehicles contributing to the burden of air pollution.

“However, not all vehicles contribute equally to pollution. Research has shown that approximately 30 percent of the vehicle population which constitutes the high emission vehicles, so basically if we are able to target that 30 percent, we will be able to reduce the impact of air pollution.”—–