Don't Have PUC Certificate? Petrol Pumps In Delhi Won't Refuel Your Vehicle From October 25

PUC Certificate: The transport department has started issuing notices to vehicle owners without valid PUCCs to get them within a week.

Only those vehicles that have valid Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCCs) will be allowed to refuel at petrol pumps in Delhi, according to an order by the government. A notice issued by the Delhi transport department has asked owners of vehicles more than a year old (except electric or battery-driven vehicles) to get PUCCs, PTI reported.

A PUC certificate states that the vehicle is safe to drive on Indian roads and does not contribute to the rising pollution rates.

The transport department has started issuing notices to vehicle owners without valid PUCCs to get them within a week or face suspension of registration certificates.

Teams have also been formed by the government to check buses coming from neighbouring states at the Anand Vihar bus terminal for PUCCs. This comes as the the Delhi government has intensified crackdown on vehicles without valid PUCCs in an effort to control pollution.

"Driving a vehicle without a valid PUCC is liable to attract a penalty of Rs 10,000 and imprisonment up to three months or both," the notice read.

The notice comes ahead of the onset of winter in Delhi, which gasps under a toxic air pollution.

Sharing the notice on Twitter, Delhi Transport Commissioner Ashish Kundra said pollution control was a shared responsibility. "For those who missed it. Pollution control is a shared responsibility. Do your bit this winter. Make sure your vehicle has a valid PUC certificate. Post 25 October, in Delhi, no PUCC would mean no fuel at the pumps," Kundra tweeted. 

Moreover, the environment department is considering issuing a notification mandating all dealers of petrol, diesel and CNG pumps to sell fuel to motor vehicles only on production of valid PUCC from October 25.

Earlier this month, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had announced that vehicle owners would not be provided fuel at petrol pumps in Delhi without showing a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate from October 25.

The decision was taken at a meeting of officials from the environment, transport and the traffic departments on September 29.

"Vehicular emission is one of the key contributors to rising pollution in Delhi. It is imperative to reduce it, and so, it has been decided that from October 25 petrol, diesel will not be provided at petrol pumps without PUC certificate of vehicles," Rai had said.

(With inputs from PTI)