Environment: Rickshaws, motorcycles most ticketed

7,401 rickshaws and 6,218 motorcycles fined over the past 15 months for causing noise and air pollution.

LAHORE: Seven thousand four hundred and one rickshaws (7,401) and 6,218 motorcycles and Qing Qi rickshaws were fined by the Environment Protection Department over the past 15 months for causing noise and air pollution.

The EPD collected Rs3,494,600 in fines by issuing 19,674 tickets, 12,752 for emitting smoke and 6,922 for causing noise pollution.

In 2009, the department had collected Rs3,117,700 in fines by issuing 19,298 challans. Of these, 13,509 were for air pollution and 5,789 for noise pollution.

Deputy District Officer Muhammed Younus said that of the different types of vehicles used in the city, Qing Qi rickshaws caused the most pollution. He said 0.75 to 1.75 litres of mobil oil was released into the air by a Qing Qi rickshaw in a day.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 15^th, 2011.