KATHMANDU: As many as 80 per cent of the diesel engine vehicles that underwent a sudden emission test failed the trial held at Bhadrakali on Tuesday evening.

The test was jointly conducted by the Department of Environment and Department of Transportation Management (DoTM) in association with the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division.

Emission testing device is used to measure smoke opacity in the petrol engine vehicles as seen during the emission test carried out at Bhadrakali in June 25, 2019 on Tuesday. Photo: Nishant Pokhrel/THT online

Samples of emitted-gases were checked which led to a conclusion that more than 80% of the diesel engine vehicles did not meet the minimum requirements, thus failing the pollution test. On the contrary, 80%-90% of the petrol engine vehicles passed the trial, informed Environment Inspector Rajeshwor Paudel who was in the midst of the test while combating the plumes of smoke emitted by vehicles.

According to Paudel, different sets of devices are used for the inspection of diesel and petrol engines. The levels of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon are measured in the diesel engines whereas smoke opacity is the standard for measurement in the petrol-run vehicles.

Diesel engine vehicles having more than 3% carbon monoxide and 1000 ppm hydrocarbon do not pass the pollution test. Similarly, Petrol engine vehicles having smoke opacity more than 62 Hsu fail the test, he added.

Emission testing device is used to measure smoke opacity in the petrol engine vehicles as seen during the emission test carried out at Bhadrakali in June 25, 2019 on Tuesday. Photo: Nishant Pokhrel/THT online

Vehicles failing the emission test were slapped with Rs 1000 in fine along with having their blue books and licenses seized. The vehicles will now have to obtain a green sticker in order to get back the documents to ply the roads again. The fined vehicles must go through another test at the DoTM, after taking care of the existing issues with the maintenance of their respective vehicles, in order to receive the green sticker.

During the test, all kinds of four-wheelers --government, public and private-- were tested.

The government has made it mandatory for all vehicles to get a green sticker which indicates that the vehicles have passed the emission test. Vehicles are required to go to the DoTM annually for the emission test and for the renewal of the green sticker.