Kathmandu, April 11 -- The Environment Department of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City recently detained over 20 high-polluting vehicles, which were fined and released only after engine repairs.

Officials at the department had warned of stern actions, including prohibiting polluting vehicles from plying the streets a month ago, as many vehicle owners and drivers did not take the metropolis' warnings seriously.

"We have already detained over 20 high-polluting vehicles for ignoring our warnings," said Jagatman Shrestha, traffic expert adviser at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City office. "Those vehicles were detained overnight. We took written commitments from vehicle owners to carry out engine maintenance regularly, slapped fines, and sent th...