OLD DIESELRUN TEMPOS TO BE PHASED OUT

It will be ensured that not a single such tempo plies within city limits, says district magistrate. Admn also chalking out plan to ban old private vehicles

LUCKNOW: Old petrol and diesel-run tempos won’t be seen in the days to come as the district administration is all set to phase them out of the city limits by December 31. The departments concerned have been asked to formulate a plan in this regard. Officials said the move aims to bring down the air pollution level.

LUCKNOW: Old petrol and dieselrun tempos won’t be seen in the days to come as the district administration is all set to phase them out of the city limits by December 31. The departments concerned have been asked to formulate a plan in this regard.

Officials said the move aims to bring down the air pollution level that has already reached alarming levels.

“Our drive is on against old diesel and petrol-run tempos that are plying illegally. By December 31, it would be

ensured that not a single such tempo plies within city limits,” said Kaushal Raj Sharma, district magistrate, who recently held a meeting aimed at checking pollution levels in the city.

Though the administration was yet to get the exact number of diesel-run tempos in operation, officials with the Regional Transport Office (RTO) said hundreds of such tempos were in operation.

“Such vehicles are mostly plying on the outskirts of the city — Dubagga, Malihabad, Kakori, Mal, Sarojini nagar and other areas and largely catering to the rural population,” said an RTO official.

In November, Lucknow’s air pollution levels had reached alarming levels. After that, the district administration had directed Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to chalk out a plan to phase out the old petrol (older than 15 years) and diesel tempos (more than 10 years old) and also directed the departments to ensure regular sprinkling of water on the roads. It had also urged the masses to report pollution, by posting pictures and details at mobile application –‘Swacchata’.

In November, the district administration and RTO seized around 37 such tempos, found plying illegally within city limits.

The administration has also directed the departments concerned to formulate a plan to impose ban on the movement of the old diesel and petrol-run private vehicles.

“We are chalking out a plan to impose ban on old private vehicles. People would be given time to do the needful before a ban is imposed on such vehicles,” said the DM.