Additional Solicitor General of India has given clearance to a Delhi government proposal under which motorists will have to show 'pollution under control' (PUC) certificates at petrol pumps. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung had sought the ASG's views on some legal points of the proposal.
"We had sought Additional Solicitor General of India's opinion on some legal points. Now, as he has given a go ahead to the proposal, we will again put the file before Lieutenant Governor. After he gives the approval, the administration will issue a notification to implement the same," said a senior official of Delhi government's Environment Department.
Facilities are already available at various petrol pumps for checking of vehicles' pollution level. The government will now make further arrangements for the purpose. According to the proposal, motorists will not be able to get their tanks filled at petrol pumps if they do not carry PUC certificates along with them.
The proposal was tabled by a high-powered committee constituted by the Lieutenant Governor on May 13, after Ambient Air Pollution (AAP) Database-2014 released by WHO declared Delhi to have the worst air quality in any city of the world. The expert committee was constituted to examine measures to check air and water pollution in the city.
From January 1 to September 5, as many as 24,025 violators have been fined for not carrying a valid PUC certificate. The Delhi government has also decided to regulate the entry of non-destined vehicles in the city.
According to the transport department, there are 53,85, 153 motorbikes and 26,67,354 cars in the national capital till June 30. "As per our plan, motorists will be given PUC stickers to paste in front of their vehicles. Those having such stickers wouldn't need to produce PUCs before staff at petrol pumps at the time of purchasing fuel," said a senior official of the transport department.
