Air pollution: Noida Traffic police issues challans worth Rs 75 lakh under GRAP norms

Air pollution: Noida Traffic Police challans over 800 vehicles worth Rs 75 lakhs in Gautam Budh Nagar for violating GRAP, reports PTI.

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Delhi-NCR has been struggling to breathe due to a ‘very poor’ air quality index since October. As a preventive measure, the government did put up several restrictions under the graded response action plan (GRAP) based on the recommendations of the Central Pollution Control Board to check the episodic rise in levels of air pollution in Delhi-NCR, including Noida and Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Budh Nagar. However, some violators flouted these norms and as a result, were heavily fined by the Gautam Budh Nagar transport department. The Gautam Budh Nagar transport department has imposed challans worth over Rs 78 lakh on owners of vehicles flouting anti-pollution norms since the onset of GRAP. 

The department has also impounded over three dozen vehicles, including private cars and commercial carriers, which were found plying on roads with emissions beyond permissible limits, a senior official said. According to official data, 780 challans were issued to owners of vehicles for not having pollution under control (PUC) certificates from October 1 till November 15.

Another 69 challans were imposed on vehicles that were found causing pollution by transporting uncovered materials like garbage or construction material, in violation of the guidelines, the data showed.

The data also showed that 26 diesel-run vehicles older than 10 years, and 17 petrol-run vehicles older than 10 years, but plying on city roads have been impounded during the period.

“For violation of PUC norms, a challan of Rs 10,000 is slapped on the offender while a penalty of Rs 500 is imposed on those carrying polluting material uncovered on their vehicles,” Assistant Regional Transport Officer (Enforcement) Prashant Tiwari said. 

He said the transport department is carrying out the enforcement of pollution-related guidelines of GRAP and the action against offenders in Gautam Buddh Nagar will continue in the future. Due to high air pollution levels during winter, the GRAP also makes recommendations for the general public.

Among the recommended measures to various governments in NCR are steps to encourage offices to start unified commuting for employees to reduce traffic on the road. It also recommended the government encourage people to use public transport, minimise the use of personal vehicles, keep the engines of vehicles properly tuned, maintain proper air pressure in tyres, keeping PUC certificates of vehicles up to date, among others.

(With inputs from PTI)