The Punjab transport department on Tuesday launched a crackdown against smoke-emitting vehicles to control smog.
According to details, 330 vehicles have been fined Rs2.7million within one week. The transport department had started to mobilize against smog. During the last week, nearly 17,000 vehicles have been examined.
849 vehicles were also issued challans for not having the fitness certificates.
Roadmap for smog mitigation in Punjab 2024-2025
From October to January, smog has become Punjab’s "fifth season", with a thick layer of pollution blanketing urbanized and industrialized cities. Climate-induced weather patterns, with low wind speed, high relative humidity, and temperature inversion, have become significant drivers of the hazy conditions and smog in major cities of Punjab.
A considerable rise in minimum temperatures leads to a narrowed diurnal temperature range, which is indicative of increased aerosol concentrations. Spatial distribution of air quality pollutants observed through satellite revealed that main urban centers are more prone to air pollution.