Linking PUC with vehicle insurance will help check pollution: Experts

The Supreme Court’s order on mandatory linking of pollution under control (PUC) certificates with annual vehicle insurance will help to bring down pollution and clean up Delhi’s air, say experts.

The order becomes all the more important because even though vehicular emission has been found out to be one of the largest contributors to Delhi’s air pollution. A recent study by CSE revealed that only 23% of the vehicles in Delhi go for PUC tests.

“The PUC system is critical to keep emission of vehicles under check. Overall improvement in compliance will lead to lesser emissions on road,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director (research and advocacy) of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

Most of the orders, which the apex court issued on Wednesday, were based on the recommendations made by EPCA, which was mandated by the Supreme Court to protect and improve the quality of the environment and controlling pollution in the National Capital Region.

“With this order citizens would now get motivated to go for PUC. Those who never thought about pollution levels would be compelled to think about pollution. It is a welcome order,” said Mukesh Khare a professor of civil engineering at IIT Delhi and a member of EPCA.

The EPCA had made these recommendations in its Report No 73 (on assessment of Pollution-Under-Control Programme in Delhi and NCR) which was submitted in the court in April this year.

“With mandatory linking of annual vehicle insurance with valid PUC certificate, the compliance level can improve significantly,” said Sunita Narain director general of CSE.