Transport Ministry To Issue Uniform ‘Pollution Under Control’ Certificate

Aimed at introducing a uniform approach to curb air pollution, the Transport Ministry has issued a common format for issuance of pollution under control certificates (PUCCs) which will be used across the country.

The ministry has introduced the concept of a ‘rejection slip’ for the first time, as part of the revised process that is expected to curb manipulation of such pollution tests.

A ‘pollution under control’ (PUC) certificate is a document of approval issued by the government, which is awarded to a vehicle owner when the emission levels of the vehicle are recorded and found to be in compliance with the authorised standards.

According to the notification issued under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989, the uniform PUCC format will link the PUC database with the National Register.

The rejection slip will be given to the vehicle owner in case the test result value is more than the maximum permissible value, as mandated in the emission norms.

This document can be shown at vehicle service centres or can be used, in case the PUCC centre device is not working properly when tested at another centre.

Information about the vehicle owner’s mobile number, name and address, engine number and chassis number will be kept confidential with only the last four digits to be visible and the other digits, masked.

The owner’s mobile number has been made mandatory, on which an SMS alert will be sent for validation and fee.

If the enforcement officer has reason to believe that a motor vehicle is not complying with provisions of emission standards, he may communicate in writing or through electronic mode to direct the driver or any person in-charge of the vehicle to submit the vehicle for conducting the test in any one of the authorised PUC testing stations.

If the driver or person in-charge of the vehicle fails to submit the vehicle for compliance, the owner shall be liable for payment of penalty.

If the owner fails to comply with this, the registering authority shall, for reasons to be recorded in writing, suspend the certificate of registration of the vehicle and any permit granted, until such time a valid “pollution under control” certificate is generated.

Thus, enforcement would be IT-enabled and would help in better control over polluting vehicles.

The QR code shall be printed on the form. It will contain the complete information about the PUC centre.