The Delhi Government came up with a string of initiatives aimed at improving the growing air quality issue that exists within the National Capital. These initiatives range from the reformation of the Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUC) rules to the development of a carpooling app designed specifically for commuters. It was announced by Minister of Environment Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
Full Revamp of the PUC Certification Process
The government has admitted that the existing system of issuing a PUC is antiquated and likely to be erroneous. In order to improve emissions control and minimise air pollution on the roads:
- The third-party monitoring of the PUC centres will be introduced to ensure the reliability of pollution test results.
- This follows a ₹2,700 crore long-term plan for pollution mitigation, which includes updated pollution tests on roads and enhanced monitoring of pollution norms.
The minister, Sirsa, also pointed out that most of these PUC centres are old and could make use of independent audits regarding their quality regarding emissions.
New Car-Pooling Application to Combat Traffic and Pollution
In order to decrease the number of vehicles present on the roads of Delhi and minimise the effect of congestion:
- The government plans to introduce a **special carpooling app** that will encourage people to travel by sharing cars.
- It is anticipated that the new app will have friendly interfaces that enable users to share and book rides.
- This is in addition to traffic decongesting measures to cut the number of private vehicles on the roads and decrease tailpipe emissions.
Strict Fuel Rules Tied To PUC Certification
Simultaneously with the reforms of the PUCs, the Delhi government has established a “No PUC, No Fuel” policy, which comes into effect as of now.
- Vehicles devoid of a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate cannot refuel at petrol, diesel, or CNG stations in the Delhi metro.
- The teams are already beginning to direct fuel stations to verify proper PUCCs before fuel dispensation, including when carrying out refuelling for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
- This act will make people follow the emission standards more closely and will encourage owners to get the pollution certificate renewed on time.
Why These Measures Are Being Implemented
The air quality in Delhi has deteriorated considerably during the winter months, touching hazardous levels owing to the burning of crop stalks, a lack of wind, dust, large-scale constructions, and emissions from vehicles. To counter:
- The enforcement of Stage IV measures in response to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), as well as restrictions on old vehicles and these PUC regulations, has been implemented.
- Vehicles not complying with BS-VI norms and registered in other areas than in the capital are prohibited from entering Delhi. They are checked on entry points.
A Multi-Pronged Push to Clean Delhi’s Air Delhi’s new approach to pollution control, headed by Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, integrates regulatory measures, technical support, and the incentives of behaviour change to control vehicle emissions, a major cause of Delhi’s pollution problem. Through PUC certificate overhaul, the development of a carpool application, and associating fuel availability with a valid PUC certificate, the government can achieve stricter enforcement and better air quality with less congestion in the road network of Delhi in the long run. Although some of these initiatives might be a bit tough to implement, at least in the initial stages, with the help of commuters, fuel stations, and even law enforcement agencies, the overall plan reveals the importance of dealing with the pollution crisis in Delhi. The final aim of providing clean air to all is the ultimate goal, which will come closer to achievement with the help of these proposals. For vehicles that do not have the BS-VI standard, the criteria to allow them to move as non-BS.
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