In an effort to check pollution in the city, the Transport Department has stopped the registration of new three wheeler auto-rickshaws run on petrol and diesel.

The ban, which has come into effect from June 10, is aimed at checking pollution and paving the way for introducing clean fuel- based transport system in the district. It may be pointed out that the city has around 13,770 three wheeler auto rickshaws running on diesel or petrol.

The administration has impounded over 400 three wheelers in the past two months in an effort to remove vehicles registered earlier than 15 years.

Moreover, at least six CNG pumps have been sanctioned and are likely to start functioning by December end.

The District Transport Officer (DTO), Mr Narhari Bangar, told ‘The Tribune’ here today that the department had decided not to register new three wheeler auto rickshaws or such commercial vehicles as these vehicles were one of worst polluters on the city road. However, he said, vehicles running on clean fuel like CNG would be registered.

The authorities had launched an active campaign to contain the problems of air pollution and the traffic management in the city, he said. Disclosing that as many as 650 vehicles had been issued challans as part of the drive, he asked the residents to report the movement of vehicles which were registered more than 15 years back. The department also announced that no school bus, which was registered earlier than seven years, could ply on the road.

Though several campaigns were being launched from time to time, there was no system in place to check such violations on regular basis as the city lacked proper traffic police network.

Meanwhile, even as the authorities issued challans against 350 trucks for overloading in the recent past, a large number of heavy and commercial vehicles had been avoiding the dragnet, as the owners of these vehicles were influential people.

It may be pointed out that hundreds of trucks filled with building material pass through National Highway 2 (Mathura road) each morning allegedly without any check or penalty for overloading.