In a stringent move to combat the persistent air quality crisis, the Delhi government has announced a major enforcement drive targeting vehicular pollution. Starting Thursday, December 18, vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will be denied fuel at petrol, diesel, and CNG stations across the national capital.
Strict Enforcement at Fuel Stations and Borders
Delhi's Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, made the announcement on Tuesday, December 16. He directed all fuel pump dealers to refuel only those vehicles whose owners can produce a valid PUCC. The rule is aimed squarely at controlling tailpipe emissions from vehicles, a significant contributor to Delhi's toxic air.
To ensure compliance, authorities will use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems and on-ground checks at fuel stations to verify the PUCC status and emission category of vehicles. Minister Sirsa urged citizens not to argue with enforcement officials if found non-compliant.
In a related measure, the minister announced that when the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stages 3 and 4 are activated, all vehicles below BS-VI standards and those registered outside Delhi will be barred from entering the city. Furthermore, vehicles carrying construction materials will be prohibited from entering Delhi during GRAP 4.
Government Claims Improvement in Air Quality
Taking a swipe at the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, Minister Sirsa claimed that under the current regime's 11-month tenure, Delhi has witnessed eight months of better air quality compared to the same months last year. He highlighted that even in November, a month notorious for severe air quality index (AQI) levels, the average AQI was approximately 20 points lower than November of the previous year.
"This is the impact of targeted, daily enforcement and long-term structural reforms," Sirsa stated during a press conference.
Wide-Ranging Crackdown on Polluters
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and district teams are conducting an extensive survey of industrial units. Action has been initiated against 824 industrial units in redevelopment and non-conforming areas that were found violating norms.
The crackdown extends beyond vehicles and industries:
- Over 2,000 notices have been issued to violators of pollution norms.
- Penalties worth approximately ₹9.21 crore have been imposed.
- Around 3,200 diesel generator (DG) sets have been verified for compliance with Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) norms. Non-compliant sets face closure and penalties.
- 318 banquet halls in Delhi have been instructed to ensure their DG sets meet prescribed standards or face sealing.
These coordinated measures represent the Delhi government's multi-pronged strategy to tackle pollution sources head-on during the critical winter period, aiming to enforce compliance and improve the city's air quality through strict regulatory action.
