EPD sticker scheme to grade vehicles

LAHORE: A Green Sticker Scheme will be launched by the Environment Protection Department (EPD) to monitor and curb carbon monoxide emitted by vehicles across Punjab.

A handout released by the EPD quoted its director general Dr Shagufta Shahjehan as saying that the objective behind the drive is to identify vehicles causing pollution and to educate the public about the health hazards posed by these emissions.

The scheme will be launched in two phases in Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi and Lahore, it read.

During the first phase, buses, trucks and two-stroke rickshaws will be monitored according to the Ringlemann Scale – used to grade the smoke density.

Heavy vehicles should not exceed 40 per cent carbon monoxide (CO) in its emission. New vehicles should not exceed 4.5 per cent and used vehicles six per cent CO. The handout stated that the noise pollution should not exceed 85 decibel.

Those exceeding these standards will also be stickered in order to educate the people.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2010.