In order to control pollution in the National Capital, Delhi Transport Department has decided to organise the ‘biggest’ ever pollution control drive against the polluting vehicles. To ensure seamless enforcement of the drive, the department has procured a total of 27 new transport enforcement vehicles which will mainly target the vehicles running without Pollution Under Check (PUC) and visibly polluting vehicles.
According to the officials, the pollution control drive will tentatively start from this week and will continue till Diwali. “Transport department starts the biggest drive of this year against polluting vehicles till Diwali. The main reason behind pollution is trucks and vehicles which run without PUC. In this drive, the overloaded trucks which causes pollution will be impound. Also, the commercial vehicles plying without valid fitness will also be seized by the enforcement teams of transport,” said a senior ranking official from the transport department of Delhi.
The official also added that the challan rules and enforcement of the drive will be conducted as per the order issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on dated 26th November 2014.
For committing first offence, the enforcement team will issue a challan of Rs 1000 and Rs 2000 for the second offence for PUC. As a part of the drive, the affluent colonies will be targeted in first instance.
The cars seized during this drive, will not be returned to vehicles owners as per scrapping guidelines notified by department last month. The seized vehicles will be handed over to MSTC for scrapping. The department will also request the police is confiscate such vehicles if found plying on roads.
Witnessing the acute shortage of staffs, the department of transport will work together with the municipal corporations. “. Even though there is acute shortage of staff, two teams shall be deployed with officials of MCDs to impound such vehicles if found plying on roads and also if found parked on public street. The action is being taken to sensitize owners of such vehicles that the deregistered vehicles should be scrapped,” added the official.
Moreover, the department informed the vehicle owners by saying, “Owners of diesel cars above 15 years beware - enforcement teams of transport and MCDs may knock at your doors to impound and to take away your car parked on public road.”
Till now the department has de-registered almost 2 lakhs diesel vehicles above age of 15 years.