In a proactive move to combat air pollution, the Delhi Transport Department has initiated a robust campaign against polluting vehicles within the city. This comprehensive campaign aims not only to crack down on vehicles lacking a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate but also to address the issue of 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles that contribute significantly to environmental degradation.
Here are the key highlights of the campaign:
- Cracking Down on Invalid PUCs: One of the primary objectives of this campaign is to identify and penalize vehicles operating without a valid PUC certificate. According to Transport Department officials, more than 10 percent of vehicles in Delhi currently lack a valid PUC. To address this concerning statistic, over 80 dedicated teams have been deployed strategically across the city, with a focus on pollution hotspots.
- Challans and Action Against Emission Offenders: The deployed teams will not only issue challans (penalty notices) to vehicles found without valid PUCs but will also take stringent action against vehicles emitting visible smoke or pollutants beyond permissible limits. This dual approach underscores the seriousness of the initiative in curbing vehicular emissions.
- Identifying Non-Compliant Vehicles: As part of a pilot program, the Transport Department has introduced surveillance cameras at four petrol pumps in Delhi. These cameras have been operational since September 21 and have already screened more than 3,000 vehicles in the past ten days. Alarmingly, over 300 vehicles were detected without valid pollution test certificates, leading to the issuance of challans.
The initiative reflects Delhi’s commitment to improving air quality and reducing pollution levels in the city. With the deployment of multiple teams targeting pollution-prone areas and the use of technology to identify non-compliant vehicles, the campaign is poised to make a significant impact on controlling vehicular emissions.
