The Odisha government has announced a second extension for its enforcement drive targeting vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC). Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena stated on Wednesday that the strict "no PUCC, no petrol" rule will now be implemented from April 1, giving motorists additional time to comply.
Revised Timeline and Government's Stance
Originally slated to begin on January 1, the crackdown was first postponed to February 1. This latest extension pushes the deadline to March 31. Minister Jena emphasized that the government is providing more time for people to obtain their PUCC, but enforcement will be strict from the new date. The transport department is tasked with creating a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for petrol pumps to follow when enforcing the rule.
To simplify the process of identifying compliant vehicles, authorities are finalizing a green sticker system. These stickers, likely to be distributed through Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), will serve as a quick visual cue for fuel station attendants.
Challenges and Public Response
Fuel station operators have expressed significant concerns about the practical implementation of the rule. They argue that checking every vehicle's PUCC will cause major inconvenience to consumers. A key issue raised is the lack of a reliable mechanism to verify the authenticity of certificates, which could potentially lead to chaos and law-and-order situations at petrol pumps.
The public reaction to the initial announcement on December 20 was immediate and overwhelming. Typically quiet emission testing centres saw massive queues of anxious vehicle owners, resulting in wait times stretching for hours. This panic highlighted the widespread lack of compliance and readiness.
Government Actions and Legal Framework
In response to the sudden rush and shortage of testing facilities, the government promised to issue instant licences for new emission testing centres. Minister Jena also revealed that 42 fake testing centres have already been shut down as part of a cleanup operation.
The rule is grounded in Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which mandates that every vehicle on public roads must meet prescribed emission standards. For BS-IV and BS-VI vehicles, a PUCC is required annually, while it is mandatory for vehicles below the BS-IV standard.
The penalties for violation are substantial: Rs 10,000 for the first offence and up to Rs 20,000 for repeat offences. Additionally, violators face the possibility of imprisonment for up to three months and suspension of their driving licence for the same period.
