Delhi Government has deferred its much publicised decision for making Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate mandatory for filling petrol/diesel in motor vehicles in Delhi from December 1.
The decision has been deferred for three months from now. Delhi Government will reassess the fallout in the wake of making PUC certificates mandatory for getting the fuel for vehicles from petrol pumps. Transport Department, Traffic Police and other agencies have been advised to work in tandem in the extended period for strengthening of infrastructure and other measures for making PUC mandatory.
The decision to defer the order has come in the light of Delhi Traffic Police’s comments about the practical difficulties and petrol pump owner threats to go on strike against linking PUC certificate with fuel.
The said proposal is part of the recommendations of the High-Powered Committee, which had been constituted by lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary DM Spolia. The committee would look into the pollution levels in the city of Delhi, including impact related to number of vehicles on road.
For effective implementation of the proposal, the Department of Transport, Delhi Traffic Police, Food and Civil Supplies Department of Delhi Government and other agencies will work in a coordinated manner for strengthening infrastructure and other measures required for smooth implementation. During the extended period of three months, multimedia campaign will also be launched for creating awareness and
need for PUC certificates, the official release of the Delhi Government stated.
The new deadline is yet to be finalised. This is the third 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 directives 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 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.