No PUC, No Fuel: Delhi Govt Announces Strict Measures Amid Air Pollution Crisis

As air pollution continues to pose a serious challenge in the national capital, the Delhi government has announced a series of stringent measures aimed at reducing vehicular emissions. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday, December 16, said that vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will be denied fuel at petrol pumps across the city starting Thursday, December 18.

Announcing the decision, the minister said the move was necessary to curb pollution caused by non-compliant vehicles and to ensure stricter enforcement of existing emission norms. He added that fuel stations would be instructed to strictly check PUCC compliance before allowing vehicles to refuel.

In another major step, Sirsa said that from Thursday, only BS-VI compliant vehicles from outside Delhi would be allowed to enter the national capital. This restriction aims to limit the inflow of older, more polluting vehicles from neighbouring states, which significantly contribute to Delhi's deteriorating air quality during winter months.

The minister further warned that the government would impose heavy penalties on trucks carrying construction material if they are found violating pollution control norms. Such vehicles may also be seized as part of the enforcement drive. The focus, he said, would be on strict action against sources contributing to dust and vehicular pollution.

These measures come at a time when Delhi's air quality showed slight improvement but continued to remain in the "severe" category. On Tuesday morning, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 377, an improvement from 498 recorded a day earlier. Despite the marginal relief in numbers, dense smog continued to blanket large parts of the city.

Morning temperatures dipped to 8.3 degrees Celsius, and low visibility caused by smog affected daily life, including traffic movement and outdoor activities. Residents continued to experience health concerns, particularly respiratory discomfort, due to prolonged exposure to polluted air.

Delhi typically witnesses a sharp spike in air pollution levels during the winter season, driven by a combination of vehicular emissions, construction dust, stubble burning in neighbouring states and unfavourable weather conditions that trap pollutants close to the ground.

The government has reiterated that these measures are part of a broader strategy to improve air quality and protect public health. Officials have appealed to citizens to cooperate by ensuring their vehicles meet emission standards and by following pollution-control guidelines, stressing that collective effort is essential to tackle Delhi's persistent air pollution crisis.