Following traffic police comments and petrol pump owner threats to go on strike against linking pollution under control (PUC) certificate with fuel, Delhi Government is planning to extend the December 1 deadline for making mandatory for petrol pumps to issue fuel to only those vehicles with valid pollution under control (PUC) certificate.
The new deadline is yet to be finalised. This is the second time the deadline has been changed. Earlier, the Government had fixed October 1 deadline for linking PUC certificate with fuel. lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Wednesday held a meeting with officials of the Environment Department on Traffic Police’s comments and petrol pump owners’ association threat to go on strike on PUC.
Following the directions of Delhi Government, Traffic Police has sent a list of suggestions to the Government so that the move, set to begin from December 1, can be implemented without affecting the traffic situation in the Capital. The Traffic Police has expressed concern that if vehicles without certificates are stopped at petrol pumps, it will lead to massive queues at pumps that may spill over on carriageways and cause traffic snarls.
“If vehicles are stopped at petrol pumps and asked for a PUC, it will cause a massive traffic gridlock. The Government can have a tie-up with parking lots in markets and malls where vehicles can get a pollution check done while entering or exiting the lot,” it said.
Traffic Police has also advised that the Transport Department be assigned the task of checking PUC. Petrol pump owners have refused to take the responsibility of checking PUC before tanking up apprehending security fears.
Officials say that the Environment Department is working out a proposal since the Government is faced with practical difficulties of implementing it from December 1. “It would be a mess if the Government decides to go ahead without doing its homework,” said insiders, adding, “Petrol pumps are also not equipped for want of upgradation. There is also a need to increase the timings of PUC from 9 am to 5 pm.”
“The officials at Raj Niwas should explore all aspects of the proposal before fixing a date for implementation,” said insiders, adding, “Officials at Raj Niwas failed to appraise the lieutenant Governor on this issue.”
Currently, only about 33 per cent vehicles have valid PUC certificates in Delhi. Out of a total 80 lakh vehicles registered in Delhi, 30 lakh-40 lakh are on road every day. Out of these, only 12 lakh-15 lakh vehicles have a valid PUC certificate.
Delhi, having shifted to Euro-IV fuel, needs to upgrade the PUC norms urgently. It is noted that a High-Powered Committee, set up by lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, on air pollution in its recommendations has suggested tightening of PUC norms.
At present, there are 326 Government-approved computerised checking centres for petrol and CNG vehicles at different petrol pumps and workshops and another 169 such checking centres for diesel vehicles in the city.
About 10 lakh vehicles coming into the Capital from NCR towns are a major area of concern as there is virtually no pollution testing in these cities. Besides a PUC certificate, the Transport Department will also give a sticker bearing registration number of the vehicle and date of PUC certificate validity.
As per law, all vehicles plying in the city are required to carry a valid PUC certificate after one year from the date of first registration. Any vehicle found without a valid certificate is liable to be prosecuted under Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, under which there is a fine of Rs1,000 for the first offence and Rs2,000 for every subsequent violation. The present PUC is a paper printout giving vehicle details and validity of the PUC.