In a relief to thousands of vehicle owners, the Delhi Government has put on hold the order making it mandatory to carry a valid pollution-under-check (PUC) certificate to buy fuel from October 25.
The Delhi Government will launch the “Red Light on Gaadi off” campaign again to curb vehicular pollution from October 28.
“The diesel and petrol dealers’ association has given some suggestions regarding law and order... These will be discussed with the Chief Minister and a decision will be taken thereafter,” Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday.
“For now, it is not being implemented from October 25,” the Minister said.
Sources in the Government said the agencies, including petrol pump owners and the Delhi Police, advised deferring the move keeping in view the law and order situation.
The Government had earlier asked vehicle owners to compulsorily carry a valid PUC certificate for buying fuel at petrol pumps from October 25 to check air pollution caused by vehicles in the national
capital.
Over 19.36 lakh vehicles in the national Capital do not have PUC certificate, according to the Delhi Transport Department.
“Presently, there is no mechanism for checking whether the vehicles whose PUCC have expired are plying or not. It can be checked at the time of re- fuelling of the vehicle or during the enforcement drives which are carried out by the transport department regularly, especially during the winter months,” said a transport department official who asked not to be named.
According to Government estimates, the transport sector accounts for 28 per cent of the PM2.5 emissions in Delhi. Vehicular contribution also makes up 80 per cent of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide in Delhi’s air.
Under Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1993, vehicle owners not having a valid PUCC can be fined up to Rs 10,000, or imprisoned for up to six months or both. Officials had earlier said vehicle owners not having a valid PUCC may also face suspension of registration certificate.
The owners are required to get their vehicles tested to ascertain if they meet emission standards for pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, carbon dioxide. According to government data, Delhi has a total of 13.4 million registered vehicles. There are over 900 pollution checking centres authorised by the Transport Department in Delhi. These are set up at petrol pumps and workshops spread all over the city.
Rai also announced that the Delhi Government will launch the “Red Light on Gaadi off” campaign again to curb vehicular pollution from October 28.Under the campaign, first launched on October 16, 2020, to cut down vehicular pollution in the national capital, drivers are encouraged to switch off their vehicles while waiting for the traffic light to turn green.
At a Press conference, Rai said experts are of the view that pollution levels may increase in Delhi after Diwali if the wind direction changes. “The Delhi Government is on alert. We are strictly implementing all the directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday reviewed the implementation of the 15-point action plan to curb air pollution in winter,” he said.
Rai said the Centre’s blunt refusal to provide cash incentive to farmers in Punjab for not burning crop residue has impacted the campaign against stubble burning in the agrarian State. In July, Delhi and Punjab Governments had jointly sent a proposal to the Centre and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to help them give Rs 2,500 per acre as cash incentive to farmers in Punjab for not burning stubble.