TThe National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday empowered the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) to shut down unauthorised auto workshops on Gagan Vihar road and challan any vehicles parked there. The NGT’s directions come on a petition filed by Aviation Employees Cooperative House Building Society Ltd., which approached the Tribunal alleging noise and air pollution due to unauthorised auto workshops. The society claimed there were around 15 auto workshops on the 80-foot stretch and that they had become a major source of pollution. The petitioner had alleged inaction on part of the civic agencies in allowing some automobile service centres or workshops to operate within the residential area. The Tribunal has passed a spate of directions to check air, water and noise pollution in recent months. It recently ordered against service centres operating just about anywhere in the city and releasing toxic waste into the drains.