Can’t deny insurance for lack of PUC, companies tell EPCA
NEW DELHI: A vehicle can’t be refused i nsurance on t he grounds that it doesn’t have a Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate, the Supreme Courtappointed body Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) was told by insurance industry representatives Monday.
Following this, EPCA has started exploring alternatives through which the number of vehicles registering for PUC and insurance can be increased to 100%, in the National Capital at least. A pilot project is also being considered for Delhi and NCR towns where insurance companies, after insuring the vehicle, inform local enforcement agencies like the police and RTO whether the vehicle in question has a PUC certificate or not. Enforcing agencies could take it forward by issuing challans.
To curb vehicular pollution, the apex court had, on August 10, 2017, passed directions prohibiting the issuance of vehicle insurance without valid PUC certificates. In 2018, following the court order, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India had issued a notification directing general insurance companies to not insure a vehicle unless it had a valid PUC certificate.
At present only around 40% vehicles in Delhi are insured, an estimate provided by a union NEWDELHI: The North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) is planning to move the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the Public Works Department (PWD), for not lifting construction waste or taking action against violators for disposing debris on roadsides.
NDMC mayor Adesh Gupta visited areas in Anand Parbat Monday and found heaps of debris at various places. “Last week, we visited 10 spots where we found similar problems. We
ministry to EPCA says. In 2017, a report submitted by EPCA to the SC had pointed out laxities in the PUC certification, saying that more than three of every four vehicles in Delhi did not have a PUC certificate. Around 95% of vehicles that undertake the PUC test, pass it.
“Insurance can’t be declined to a vehicle even if it doesn’t have a valid PUC certificate as per existing laws. Secondly, how do we check the authenticity of the certificate? Thirdly, refusing insurance will affect accident victims,” a representative from the insurance industry, who attended the meeting, said.
EPCA has also directed insur- have issued 10 fines to the PWD as per the NGT guidelines for not lifting debris from roadsides,” Gupta said.
The corporation also wrote to PWD minister Satyendar Jain in this regard. “But we have not received any reply so far,” Gupta said.
While Jain was unavailable for comment, a senior official privy to the matter said they have received copies of the fines issued by NDMC. “We have forwarded them to the PWD secretary and requested a discussion with the chief secretary,” the official said.
ance companies to share with enforcing agencies details of vehicles which do not come for renew their insurance from the second year onwards. Industry representatives said that while 60% vehicles do not renew their insurance in the second year, the number drops to around 15% by the fourth year.
“We will first try to achieve 100% compliance i n Delhi because there is a good network and vehicles’ PUC data are regularly updated on the central Vahan database. If the pilot project proves to be successful, it could be replicated in other cities,” Sunita Narain, member of EPCA, said.