A charity foundation is planning to appeal a recent Central Adminis-trative Court decision ruling that the Pollution Control Department (PCD) was not directly responsible for the increase in toxic fumes emitted from city buses.

Srisuwan Janya, a deputy secretary-general of the Anti-Air Pollution and Environmen-tal Protection Foundation, said yesterday that the level of toxic fumes in Bangkok could have been reduced significant-

ly if the department had performed its duties more efficiently.

The decision on November 10, the first by the Central Administrative Court in favour of environmental protection, ruled that the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority was responsible for allowing its city buses and those operating under its concession to emit toxic fumes.

The landmark decision also ordered the BMTA to conduct a thorough inspection of the entire fleet of all city buses and submit inspection results to the court every three months.

However, the court said the department was not guilty of negligence of its duties as alleged by the foundation.

PCD director-general Suphat Wangwongwatthana said the department would impose regulations on toxic emissions on BMTA buses and all those operating under BMTA concessions more strictly.

Meanwhile, two commuters were killed yesterday and many others injured in two separate road accidents in Bangkok involving public buses operating on BMTA concessions.

A university senior was killed instantly and 11 other passengers injured after mini bus No 27 hit a power pole and overturned while travelling in an outbound lane on Seri Thai Road. The bus driver fled the scene.

In Bangkok Yai district, a retired teacher stumbled and fell on the road while trying to board bus No 19-14 travelling along Issarapharb Road. Bus driver Adirek Angsuk was arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter.

Earlier in the morning, two people were injured after a motorcycle collided with a No

64 bus in front of the Grand Palace. Bus driver Songchai Khongpensuk said the motor-cycle sped in front of him while his bus was about to turn left.