Delhi Government Plans More Pollution Checking Centres with Help from Metro and Gas Companies
The Delhi government announced plans to increase the number of Pollution Under Control (PUC) checking centres to improve air quality. They are exploring additional locations within the city and have requested Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRC) and Indraprastha Gas Ltd. (IGL) to open new PUC checking centres at their sites.
According to a statement from the Office of the Transport Minister, Government of NCR of Delhi, the transport department has requested DMRC and IGL to open new PUC checking centres at their sites. Currently, Delhi has over 900 PUC checking centres, including more than 700 located at petrol pumps.
Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said, “Ensuring that vehicles comply with pollution norms is crucial for improving Delhi’s air quality. By increasing the number of PUC checking centres, we aim to make it more convenient for citizens to get their vehicles tested and certified.” He also appreciated the cooperation of DMRC and IGL in this endeavour.
This initiative follows the Transport Department’s recent discovery that many PUC checking centres at petrol pumps were non-operational. In 2017, the Supreme Court mandated all state transport departments to establish PUC checking centres at every fuel station. Recently, the Transport Department found some centres not complying with this order, leading to enforcement teams being directed to take strict action against non-compliant centres, including suspending their operations within the city.
Doubts Revealed
Pollution Under Control (PUC) -: PUC stands for Pollution Under Control. It is a certificate that shows a vehicle’s emissions are within the legal limits and not polluting the air too much.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRC) -: DMRC is the company that runs the metro trains in Delhi. Metro trains are a popular way for people to travel around the city.
Indraprastha Gas Ltd. (IGL) -: IGL is a company that supplies natural gas for cooking and vehicles in Delhi. They help reduce pollution by providing cleaner fuel options.
Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot -: Kailash Gahlot is a government official in Delhi who is responsible for transportation matters, like buses and pollution control.
Non-compliant centres -: These are PUC centres that do not follow the rules properly. They might face punishments like being closed down if they don’t improve.