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Auto riekshaws

still polluting

environment

LAHORE: The 70 percent auto-rickshaws plying on city roads are still polluting environment despite on-going anti-polluting campaign by the Environmental Squad in which it has punished 31,654 owners of such vehicles in the year 1999.

Environment Protection Department (EPD) sources said on Wednesday that the squad also imposed a fine of Rs 8.888 million on smoke-emitting and noise generating vehicles. It claimed that due to the efforts of the squad about 30 percent rickshaws plying on city roads are now fulfilling the criteria laid down by the department to make them environment-friendly.

The squad checked 63,753 vehicles in previous year and challaned 25,454 of them. Those vehicles impounded in the campaign were 2,258 in number while fitness certificates of 2,778 vehicles were also suspended, besides removing 1,164 pressure horns.ÑAPP