Odisha’s Transport Minister, Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, on Wednesday, said that the state government intends to re-evaluate the heavy penalties currently levied on vehicles operating without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC).
Speaking to reporters, the Minister emphasised that the administration’s primary goal is not to burden the public or prioritise revenue collection through fines.
“It is not the priority of our government to penalise the common people and collect fines from them. We will reexamine the fines imposed on the vehicles without PUCC and will also try to reduce those,” Jena said.
While noting that PUCC has always been a mandatory requirement for motor vehicles, Jena stated that the government has started enforcing the rule as the air quality is turning worse in several cities of Odisha
With more than one crore vehicles currently operating on the state’s roads, the Minister underscored the environmental necessity of strictly enforcing emission standards to curb rising pollution levels.
Currently, the state has been imposing a Rs 10,000 fine on vehicles plying without PUCC while passing the toll gates. While the government previously attempted to implement a “no PUCC, no fuel” policy at petrol pumps, that order was withdrawn following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Orissa High Court.
On Tuesday, the high court, however, refused to interfere with the state’s decision not to issue PUCC to vehicles with pending challans of traffic violations.
In a statement posted on social media, Jena said the vehicle owners will have to clear a fine pending for more than 90 days to get PUCC, which is in accordance with the provisions of the Central Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.
The minister said the government has relaxed the imposition of fines on vehicles without a valid PUCC till April 1. He appealed to vehicle owners to obtain PUCC before the deadline.
