Govt defers 'no PUCC, no petrol' plan to February

Bhubaneswar: Amid the rush at vehicle emission testing centres to obtain pollution under control certificates (PUCC), state govt has deferred its ‘no PUCC, no petrol’ enforcement plan from Jan to Feb.Transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena said on Wednesday the decision was taken to provide vehicle owners a one-month period to obtain the mandatory certificate. “Even though we were planning to launch the enforcement at petrol pumps next month, we will now start it from Feb 1. People should secure valid PUCC and other transport documents to avoid action from that date. While PUCC is essential to check air pollution, documents like fitness certificate, insurance, driving licence and registration certificate are equally important for road safety,” Jena said. Since the govt’s Dec 20 announcement that petrol pumps would stop giving fuel to vehicles without valid PUCC, emission testing centres — usually deserted — have been overwhelmed. Long queues of motorists have led to hours-long wait, reflecting widespread panic and confusion.Under Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, every motor vehicle operating in public places must comply with prescribed emission standards. For BS-IV and BS-VI vehicles, PUCC is required annually. The certificate is mandatory for vehicles below BS-IV standard.Violations attract penalties of Rs 10,000 for the first offence and up to Rs 20,000 for repeat offences, along with possible imprisonment of up to three months and suspension of driving licence for the same period.Govt’s e-detection system at toll plazas recently added PUCC verification to its list of automatically monitored violations. “Motorists receiving an e-challan of Rs 10,000 for not having PUCC can have the fine waived if they secure the certificate within seven days. Those with e-challans (towards all types of offences) pending for over 90 days cannot obtain PUCC until fines are paid. Owners with challans less than 90 days old may still obtain PUCC within the window,” state transport commissioner Amitabh Thakur said.Officials stressed that vehicular emissions remain a major environmental and public health challenge in the country, particularly in cities like Delhi. The transport sector is a significant contributor to urban air pollution, releasing harmful pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. Authorities also noted that many vehicle owners neglect PUCC compliance, often obtaining certificates only during enforcement drives rather than as part of routine responsibility.