On the first day, 3,746 vehicles that did not have valid PUC certificates were challaned, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said.
As Delhi grapples with its worst air pollution crisis, the capital city’s government has stepped up its efforts to curb toxic emissions, rolling out several measures aimed at brining the AQI levels down.
One such measures is ‘No PUC, No Fuel’, which came into force today. Under the anti-pollution initiative, the government has announced that vehicle owners without a valid PUC certificate won’t be able to get fuel at petrol pumps.
Advertisement
On the first day, 3,746 vehicles that did not have valid PUC certificates were challaned, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said.
Advertisement
“Following the notification issued by the Delhi Government’s Environment and Forests Department under GRAP-IV, a strict inspection campaign is being conducted at Delhi’s borders,” he said.
Sirsa informed that on the very first day of this campaign, approximately 5,000 vehicles were inspected at border points, out of which 568 vehicles that did not comply with BS-VI standards were turned back.
“Within 24 hours, more than 61,000 PUC certificates were issued, and in addition, challans were issued to 3,746 vehicles that did not have valid PUC certificates,” he said, adding that strict action will continue unabated to keep Delhi’s air quality safe.
Kejriwal slams BJP govt over pollution
Former Delhi CM and AAP’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal slammed the Rekha Gupta-led BJP government over the city’s air pollution crisis.
Kejriwal said there was no stubble burning in Punjab and the air pollution crisis in Delhi is homegrown.
“It was earlier said that the pollution in Delhi was due to stubble burning in Punjab. But now, across the cities in Punjab, the AQI is between 70 and 100. So, if there is no smog in Punjab, there is no stubble burning in Punjab, so whatever pollution is at present in Delhi is its own,” he said.
Kejriwal also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, “In a country where the capital turns into a gas chamber, the prime minister has no concern for pollution at all, how can clean air be obtained?”
BJP hits back at Kejriwal
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva hit back at Kejriwal, accusing the AAP chief of spreading lies and indulging in the politics of deception over the issue of pollution.
He blamed the Kejriwal-led Delhi government’s failures during its 11-year rule for aggravating the Capital’s air quality crisis.
“If the AAP government had done even half of these tasks, the remaining work could have been completed easily. But Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP government did not do even a single task in the last 11 years,” he said.
Advertisement
