In a decisive move to combat vehicular pollution, the Delhi government announced on Tuesday that the 'No PUC - No Fuel' campaign will remain in full force even after the lifting of GRAP-4 restrictions. Under this mandate, petrol pumps across the capital are prohibited from dispensing fuel to any vehicle that does not possess a valid Pollution Under Control (PUCC) certificate.
The government has emphasised that ensuring every vehicle operating in Delhi holds a valid PUCC certificate is the most effective method to control emissions.
Crackdown On Non-Compliant PUCC Centres
Addressing the enforcement measures, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa revealed that the Transport Department had received multiple complaints regarding PUCC centres issuing fraudulent or incorrect certificates and failing to adhere to prescribed standards.
Acting swiftly on these complaints, the department conducted surprise inspections of the flagged centres. Consequently, 12 PUCC centres found flouting the norms were suspended with immediate effect. Minister Sirsa stated that the process to blacklist these suspended centres has been initiated, permanently barring them from issuing PUCCs in the future.
Strict Warning Issued
Transport Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa termed this action as "just the beginning," announcing that all other PUCC centres in the city will now undergo thorough investigations. He issued a stern warning that any centre found violating rules will face strict punitive action and will not be spared.
Zero Tolerance Policy
The government has clarified its stance that negligence regarding PUCC standards will no longer be treated as a simple violation but will be considered a serious offence. This shift in policy aims to eliminate complacency and ensure total compliance in the ongoing efforts to clean Delhi's air.