Can it be implemented as 26 lakh vehicles lack it? Will it clean Delhi’s air or punish commuters?

Pollution control in vehicles. (File Image)

The Delhi government announced the implementation of the “No PUC, no fuel” policy. This means that vehicles without a Pollution Control certificate will not be fueled at petrol pumps. Those who drive without a license will be fined 10,000 TL. This has raised many questions: How many vehicles are there in Delhi and how many of them have PUC certificates? Do petrol pumps have the authority, necessary manpower and other facilities to implement this policy? What is a PUC and who regulates it and under what conditions?

What is PUC?

According to the Motor Vehicles Act 1988, the PUC certificate is mandatory for every vehicle and is one of the four main documents that the vehicle owner must carry. A government-authorized testing centre, such as a petrol pump or station, may issue a PUC after checking and satisfying that exhaust emissions such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons are below government-set limits. Vehicle owners can obtain the PUC certificate online by providing information such as vehicle registration number, last 5 digits of the chassis number and security code.

No PUC, no fuel policy

The PUC is important because it verifies that the vehicle’s emissions comply with legal standards set by regulatory bodies and do not contribute to air pollution. It is a tool to keep air pollution and Air Quality Index (AQI) under control. The PUC contains detailed vehicle information such as license plate, emissions test date and results. It is valid for one year for new vehicles and six months for old vehicles. This is good for the vehicle owner as poor maintenance leads to higher pollution, forcing the owner to maintain the vehicle’s engine.

Delhi tools PUC

According to media reports, transport department data shows that Delhi has more than 97 lakh vehicles, including cars, two-wheelers, autorickshaws, trucks and other vehicles. According to a rough estimate, around 22 lakh vehicles do not have valid PUC certificates. In other words, around 75 lakh vehicles have valid PUC certificates. It can be safely said that around 80% of vehicles in Delhi have valid PUC certificates. However, many vehicles are too old to be used anymore. A rough estimate suggests that around 82 lakh vehicles have the certificate, while 26 lakh or about 32% of them do not have a valid PUC certificate.

PUC compliance Delhi

However, it will be difficult for gas pumps to check every vehicle and give fuel after it is full. There are not enough people to man the gas pumps. Most of the nation’s gas pumps do not have a real-time, reliable connection to the PUC database. In some cases, vehicle owners may not be refueled due to incorrect data. Secondly, filling vehicles with diesel or gasoline is an unskilled job and usually the people doing it are not very trained. They cannot check the PUC certificate. Third, how will they know if the certificate is fake? They do not have the mechanism, equipment and knowledge to verify the authenticity of the certificate.

Delhi pollution control measures

The ‘No PUC, no fuel’ policy can improve the overall situation by increasing digital integration between fuel stations, VAHAN and PUC databases. It could encourage random roadside emissions testing and raise awareness among vehicle owners. However, it will be very difficult for authorities to implement this and will be frustrating for vehicle owners. If implemented successfully, the policy could improve the health of engines and reduce air pollution.