Latest news with #PollutionUnderControl
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Delhi sees sharp jump in PUC challans this year
The transport department has issued nearly 163,000 Pollution Under Control (PUC) challans in 2025 so far — indicating a more than 300%jump in the monthly average from the past year, data showed. Out of the around 8.2 million active vehicles in the city, nearly 2.6 million do not have a valid PUC certificate. (HT Archive) While the data for the corresponding period in 2024 was not available, a total of 68,000 challans were issued in the entire year. Prior to that too, the number of challans issued remained low -- in 2023, 36,000 challans were issued, 43,500 challans in 2022, and 29500 in 2023. The sharp rise in the number of challans issued so far this year is due to installation of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, renewed enforcement push and the government's growing reliance on digital tools such as online issuance of PUC challans using API technology linked with the Centre's Vahan database to track and penalise violators, officials said. ANPR cameras have been installed at around 300 fuel stations across the city. 'High-resolution ANPR cameras capture the licence plate details of vehicles when they come for refilling. These details are cross-referenced in real time with the central vehicle database via the mParivahan API to check for valid PUC certification. If a vehicle is found to have an expired or missing PUC certificate, and it is not renewed within one hour of detection, the system automatically triggers the generation of an e-challan. The entire process is managed through a centralised server infrastructure housed at the transport department headquarters, ensuring seamless and automated enforcement,' said an official of the transport department. The vehicle owner is intimated about the PUC challan through a text message on the registered mobile number. Delhi has 966 PUC checking centres, where the tailpipe emission standards of the vehicles can be checked by paying a nominal fee. According to transport department officials, as of January 2025, out of the around 8.2 million active vehicles in the city, nearly 2.6 million do not have a valid PUC certificate, meaning their certificates had either expired or were never issued. Section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act makes it mandatory for vehicles to have PUC certificates. The owner of a vehicle plying without a valid PUC certificate is liable to be prosecuted and may be imprisoned for up to three months or fined up to ₹10,000, or both. 'Besides digital intervention, around eight to ten enforcement teams of the transport department are also deployed every day at various locations in the city for carrying out random checks for PUC certificate checks,' said a second department official. A breakdown of online challans and manual challans was not immediately available. According to a recent report by the Delhi government, under the updated PUC certificate regime, emission readings are automatically captured and assessed, removing human discretion and ensuring objectivity. This system ensures only compliant vehicles remain in operation, regardless of age and based on actual emissions being emitted from the vehicle. Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said there is a need for stricter emission monitoring of vehicles. 'Strict monitoring of emissions from vehicles on the road is necessary because the vehicles are among the key contributors to Delhi's poor air quality. The government should also ensure that 100% compliance with basic PUC norms also requires credible and properly conducted PUC tests.'
NDTV
2 days ago
- Automotive
- NDTV
"Pollution Should Be The Criteria": Minister On Old Vehicles' Ban In Delhi
New Delhi: The Delhi government has approached the Supreme Court seeking a review of its 2018 order, which bans diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in the Delhi-NCR region. The petition argues that the age-based ban is outdated and unfairly targets even roadworthy, non-polluting vehicles, hitting middle-class owners the hardest. The plea comes amid growing backlash over the Commission for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) July order to stop fuel supply to vehicles that fall under the "end-of-life" category. That order has now been deferred till November 1 after strong public opposition and intervention by the Delhi government. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed the development, saying the situation has changed significantly since 2018. "The situation of 2025 is totally different from 2018, and there are many modern technologies available now. We want to apprise the honourable court, and that's why we have filed the review," Mr Sirsa told NDTV. Mr Sirsa added, "If a vehicle is polluting, it should be banned, regardless of whether it's five years old or fifteen. Pollution should be the criteria, not the age of the vehicle." The petition warns that continuing with the 2018 ruling will lead to even BS-VI compliant vehicles being taken off the roads in the coming years, without scientific justification. It questions why even BS-IV vehicles that pass Pollution Under Control (PUC) tests are being sidelined and calls for decisions to be based on updated emissions data. The government has urged the court to order a comprehensive, scientific study on how older vehicles contribute to pollution, rather than relying on blanket age-based rules. The petition also cited that other countries like Japan, the US, and those in the EU do not ban vehicles solely based on age. Instead, they rely on regular testing and real-time emissions data to decide if a vehicle should remain on the road. The debate has struck a chord with vehicle owners across NCR, many of whom say they've suffered despite owning well-maintained cars. Naresh Malik, a South Delhi resident, shared his ordeal, "I had to sell my Corolla Altis, which had only run 34,000 km in 15 years, at a throwaway price. It was in perfect condition. Today's cars can easily last 2.5 lakh kilometres. Why are we judged just on age?" "If the aim is to reduce pollution, the focus should be on traffic congestion and stricter PUC (Pollution Under Control) checks, not arbitrary rules. I'm hopeful the court will understand the practical concerns of people like us, especially the financial burden we face," he added. The CAQM's July 1 directive to stop refuelling ELV vehicles had triggered widespread public outcry. Minister Sirsa wrote to the commission asking for a pause, and Lt Governor VK Saxena later advised the government to take the matter to the Supreme Court. The case is now listed for hearing on Monday, and its outcome could impact thousands of vehicle owners across the capital region, as well as future national policies on vehicle retirement and pollution control.
India Today
2 days ago
- Automotive
- India Today
There's still hope: Delhi's old vehicle ban to be reviewed by Supreme court
In a major development that could reshape how Delhi balances clean-air mandates with evolving vehicle technology, the Supreme Court will hear a crucial plea on July 28 regarding the absurd ban on older petrol and diesel vehicles in the Delhi-NCR region. The hearing comes in light of a petition filed by the Delhi government seeking a review of the court's 2018 order enforcing end-of-life restrictions, particularly on Bharat Stage VI (BS VI)-compliant matter will be heard by a bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, and is expected to explore whether the existing rules, originally designed for older, more so-called polluting vehicles, are still justified in an era of advanced emission norms.A ban rooted in air quality emergencyThe ban traces back to a 2015 order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which prohibited diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years from operating in Delhi-NCR. The Supreme Court upheld this directive in 2018, citing public health and environmental protection. Recently, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) sought to enforce a related measure by halting fuel supply to these 'end-of-life' vehicles from July 1, an order that has now been deferred to November due to public backlash and logistical petition: Science over age In its application, the Rekha Gupta-led Delhi government argues that the blanket age-based restriction is 'no longer scientifically or technically justified' in light of significant advancements in vehicle emissions technology, especially with the implementation of BS-VI norms in April 2020. These vehicles emit up to 80% less particulate matter and 70% less nitrogen oxides than BS IV the ban 'disproportionate and impractical,' the government emphasises that many well-maintained BS-IV and BS-VI vehicles with up-to-date Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates and limited usage patterns contribute negligibly to overall pollution. The petition stresses that roadworthiness and emissions should be evaluated scientifically, through regular testing mechanisms under the Motor Vehicles Act and Central Motor Vehicles Rules, rather than being dictated by arbitrary age on the publicThe Delhi government warns that the current ban disproportionately affects middle- and lower-income groups who rely on used vehicles for essential mobility. For many, these vehicles remain roadworthy and compliant with emissions standards, yet face de-registration and denied access to fuel purely due to Minister Majinder Singh Sirsa underlined the government's position, stating, 'We need data-backed policy, not blanket bans. Pollution needs to be tackled, yes, but in a way that is fair and scientifically accurate.'Call for a scientific reviewadvertisementThe Delhi government has urged the Supreme Court to direct either the Centre or the CAQM to conduct a comprehensive scientific study to assess the actual environmental benefits of the age-based ban. The petition also highlights that vehicular emissions are only one of many contributors to Delhi's hazardous air quality, alongside stubble burning, industrial pollution, construction dust, and unfavourable weather lies ahead?If the Supreme Court acknowledges the merits of this review plea, it could pave the way for a landmark shift from age-based scrappage policies to more nuanced, emission-centric regulations. Such a move would not only protect cleaner vehicles from premature "death" but also bring India closer to adopting international best practices in pollution control and sustainable outcome of the July 28 hearing will be closely watched by policymakers, environmentalists, automakers, and millions of vehicle owners across Delhi-NCR, potentially setting a national precedent for the future of vehicle regulation in to Auto Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Delhi govt urges Supreme Court to review 2018 order banning older vehicles
The Delhi government has petitioned the Supreme Court seeking a review of its 2018 order banning 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in the National Capital Region (NCR). It argues that the directive lacks a scientific basis and imposes disproportionate hardship on residents, according to a report by Bar and Bench. The plea contends that the ban was not supported by any environmental impact study and has become outdated in light of stricter pollution controls introduced in recent years. This comes shortly after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) agreed to defer a related policy, fuel restrictions on end-of-life (EOL) vehicles, until November 1, 2025. Delhi fuel ban deferred after public pushback On July 9, the CAQM, a central authority tasked with air quality regulation in Delhi-NCR, decided to postpone the implementation of fuel restrictions on EOL vehicles. The original directive, scheduled to take effect from July 1, had prohibited fuel stations from supplying fuel to diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, regardless of their state of registration. Delhi government called age-based vehicle ban 'arbitrary and outdated' In its latest application, the Delhi government has pointed to several key changes implemented after the Court's 2018 decision, including the nationwide adoption of Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission standards in 2020. These newer standards, it stated, required vehicles to meet much stricter pollution norms. 'BS-VI engines are significantly less polluting,' the government argued, warning that allowing the 2018 order to continue would force roadworthy and compliant vehicles off the roads without scientific justification. The application also highlighted the strengthened Pollution Under Control (PUC) certification regime, the wider availability of cleaner fuels, and the growing presence of electric vehicles as evidence of a more evolved regulatory environment. Ban causes hardship on vehicle owners The government noted that many Delhi residents drive infrequently and maintain their vehicles in compliance with current norms, yet were still being penalised based on vehicle age alone. It also flagged the impact on the second-hand car market, which it said remained the only realistic option for many low-and middle-income families to access personal transportation. Delhi govt asks for scientific assessment on vehicle ban The Delhi government urged the Court to reconsider the blanket age-based ban and called for a scientific review of its effectiveness. Specifically, it asked that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) be directed to study: The actual environmental benefit of an age-based vehicle ban. The fairness and feasibility of a blanket restriction across all vehicle categories and technologies. Whether such a policy meaningfully contributed to air quality improvements in NCR compared to emissions-based strategies. It also cited global examples—such as the European Union, Japan, and the United States—where no age-based bans are in place, and where pollution is addressed through emissions testing, regulation, and urban planning. The court was scheduled to hear the application on Monday, along with two similar petitions filed by private individuals challenging the age-based restrictions.
Scroll.in
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Delhi moves Supreme Court seeking review of ban on ‘end-of-life' vehicles
The Bharatiya Janata Party government in Delhi moved the Supreme Court on Friday seeking a review of its 2018 order, which enforced a blanket ban on petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years in the National Capital Region, reported Live Law. 'The road-worthiness of a vehicle is a technical and scientific issue that must be linked to actual emissions as tested and recorded by mechanisms, as opposed to blanket ban on the basis of age,' the Delhi government argued in its petition, according to The Indian Express. The Rekha Gupta-led government also said that age-based restrictions are no longer justified. A bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai will hear the matter on Monday. Though well-intentioned, the ban had 'caused numerous practical hardships to the citizens of Delhi, which today, in light of the advancements in technology and enforcement now prima facie appear to outweigh the prudence and feasibility of continuance of the said ban', stated the government. It added that advancements in vehicle technology, widespread implementation of Pollution Under Control norms and the rollout of Bharat Stage VI engines 'suitably address the concerns' that had prompted the top court to pass its judgement. The government also requested that the Union Government or the Commission for Air Quality Management be directed to conduct a broad, scientific study to assess whether the age-based ban serves its intended purpose, Live Law reported. It also pointed out that vehicular emissions are one of several factors contributing to Delhi's poor air quality. Other major sources include stubble burning, construction dust, industrial emissions and weather conditions. On July 1, the Commission for Air Quality Management's directions to fuel stations to stop supplying petrol or diesel to 'end-of-life' vehicles came into effect. However, the order was deferred until November 1 over technological issues and concerns about cross-border fuelling. The decision to delay the enforcement came after the Delhi government raised concerns about public inconvenience and implementation hurdles. Although the Delhi government had originally backed the measure, public backlash led to a reassessment.
