Traffic cops crack down on polluting and old vehicles
NEWDELHI: Delhi traffic police have launched a crackdown on vehicles flouting pollution norms and those older than 15 years. During the drive launched on November 1, 1,221 vehicles were challaned for not having pollution under control certificate. In the last one year, 34,684 vehicles have been prosecuted for the violation.
Dependra Pathak, special commissioner of police (traffic), said between November 1 and 7, around 4,500 old vehicles were checked. Of these, 23 which were older than 15 years were impounded.
For the same offence, in the last one year, over 3.20 lakh vehicles were checked, of which 161 were impounded because they were more than 15 years old.
In April 2015, the Supreme Court upheld a National Green Tribunal ban on all vehicles which were more than 15 years old from plying on Delhi roads. The NGT had also ordered that such vehicles would not be permitted to be parked in any public area and towed away and challenged by the police in accordance with the law.
“Delhi Traffic police have also taken action against non-destined vehicles and against those who were found carrying building materials without covering them properly. In the last one week, 32 such vehicles were challaned,” said Pathak, adding 582 vehicles have been challaned for the violation in the past one year.
Traffic Police officials said during their drive to check pollution, 450 non-destined vehicles (those having no permission to enter the national capital), were returned at Delhi borders and denied entry into the city, since November 1 this year. A total of 2,336 vehicles were checked at borders during this period.
“The high pollution demanded extraordinary steps to be taken in order to check the pollution causing vehicles. We will continue taking action against vehicles flouting pollution related rules,” said Pathak.
On Wednesday, the traffic police also issued an advisory for motorists and advised them to observe certain precautions such as reducing speed, using fog lights, not stopping on the main road to avoid accidents, collision and other mishaps because of the foggy conditions. Personnel managing traffic on roads have been asked to wear anti-pollution masks.