The transport department would carry out a drive across the state on Monday to crack down on vehicles running without pollution under control (PUC) certificates.

Vehicles found without the certificate might face penalty of up to Rs 1,000, according to Rule 190 (2) of the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

Transport department principal secretary-cum-commissioner Vijoy Prakash said apart from motor vehicle inspectors, the traffic police would also be a part of the drive.

“It has been observed that most of the vehicles in Patna and elsewhere in the state are running without the mandatory PUC. There are sufficient numbers of PUC centres and the fees to issue the certificate is also meagre. Still people don’t get their vehicles checked for pollution. Accordingly, this drive is being conducted to ensure strict implementation of vehicular pollution checking norms,” said Vijoy.

There are around 50 pollution control centres registered with the district transport office, Patna, and the fees for getting the PUC issued is Rs 30 for two-wheelers and Rs 50 for four- wheelers.

The transport department has urged the state government machinery, including the Bihar police as well as the judiciary, to ensure pollution checks in all vehicles belonging to them.

On September 8, transport secretary Vijoy shot a letter to the respective departments, district magistrates, superintendents of police and registrar at Patna High Court to ensure pollution checks in all vehicles belonging to them.

Sources said the move is aimed at reducing air pollution in the city.

World Health Organisation (WHO) through its 2014 version of the Ambient Air Pollution database released on May 7, declared Patna as the second-most air-polluted city in the country, only after national capital New Delhi.

According to the annual air pollution report of Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) for 2013-14 released in May, the actual level of PM10 was found to be 152µg/meter cube against its respective standard of 60µg/meter cube.

Vehicular emission has been linked to higher level of respiratory suspended particulate matter (PM10 and 2.5) — fine particulate matter that invades the lungs and triggers respiratory diseases and cancer — in Patna.

According to Rule 163(a) of Bihar Motor Vehicle Rules, 1992, no vehicle should be kept or operated without pollution control certificate.

The penalty for violation of the rule according to Rule 190 (2) of Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, is Rs 1,000 for the first offence and Rs 2,000 for subsequent offences.