Delhi's air becomes poisonous: More than 54000 vehicles fined for expired PUC in two weeks

Delhi's air becomes poisonous: More than 54000 vehicles fined for expired PUC in two weeks

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By: HT Auto Desk
, updated on: 04 November 2024, 09:14 am

  • In Delhi, action is being taken against vehicles without valid pollution-control certificates. What is the fine? Check here…
An anti-smog gun is being used to spray water droplets to prevent air pollution in New Delhi. (Arvind Yadav/Hindustan Times)

Attention drivers of Delhi. Driving a car or two-wheeler without a valid pollution-under-control certificate (PUC) will attract heavy fines. And while it has always been mandatory for a vehicle to have a valid PUC, with rising pollution levels in the capital city, the checks have become much more stringent in recent weeks.

According to a recent statement issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), around 54,000 vehicles were fined between October 15 and October 31 for not having a valid PUC. There is a provision of fine for such crime. 10,000 and the vehicle may also be confiscated.

Also read: Is your car suffocating you? Five tips for driving a clean car

CAQM also reported that in the two weeks ending October 31, fines were imposed on about 3,900 vehicles that had exceeded their allowable age limit for operation. In Delhi-NCR, there is no ban on petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years. Permission to operate has been granted. This is primarily to ensure that older vehicles that emit more pollutants are kept off city roads.

Also read: Is it appropriate to ban old diesel-petrol vehicles?

Pollution level increases once again in Delhi

Delhi AQI or Air Quality Index has once again reached dangerous levels. Many factors contribute to the city's toxic air ahead of the winter months. From stubble burning and weather conditions to vehicle emissions, all are often blamed for the mix of the deadly PM2.5 and PM 10 cocktail.

While the Central and Delhi governments are encouraging the use of clean-energy vehicles and use of public modes of transport, they are also committed to ensuring that polluting vehicles are kept away. Additionally, the AAP government in Delhi has launched 'Signal On'. Vehicle The 'Off' campaign urges motorists to switch off vehicle ignition until the signal turns green at traffic intersections.

In the past, Delhi has also used a traffic-rationing system called the odd-even traffic rule. However, its success has been a matter of debate because while many say it keeps traffic congestion away, others say it has no positive impact on pollution levels. Critics also argue that it causes more inconvenience to local people.

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First publication date: 04 November 2024, 09:13 AM IST

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Delhi motorists take note: These vehicles are banned temporarily. Here’s why

Delhi motorists take note: These vehicles are banned temporarily. Here’s why

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By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 22 Dec 2023, 19:22 PM

Pollution in Delhi NCR is increasing once again because of this the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has rolled out a new order that bans vehicles up to BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel four-wheelers. The air quality of Delhi NCR falls under the ‘Severe’ category which essentially means an AQI ranging between 4O1-45O. As of now, there is no timeline stated for the ban to be lifted.

Ban on BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel cars has been implemented once again because of increasing AQI. (Photo by Sanchit Khanna/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

The Sub-Committee observed that the AQI of Delhi on 22nd December witnessed a sharp increase. It stood at 4O9 and the committee says that it is only expected to increase a further 8 owing to the highly unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions reported/ predicted by IMD/ IITM.

The AQI categorises scores from zero to 500, with values between zero and 50 considered “good,” 51 to 100 labelled as “satisfactory”, 101 to 200 as “moderate”, 201 to 300 as “poor”, 301 to 400 as “very poor” and 401 to 500 as “severe”.

Apart from banning cars, GRAP has ordered a strict ban on construction and demolition activities in the entire NCR region. However, few activities are expected such as projects for railway services, airports, inter-state bus terminals, hospital/health care and metros. Projects and activities related to national security, public projects such as sanitation, highways, roads, flyovers etc. are also exempted.

Also Read : From West, with no love – India among regions likely to become dumping grounds for polluting vehicles.

Earlier, the Delhi government had planned to introduce the Odd-Even rule after Diwali when pollution spiked in the city. However, it postponed the plans after the Supreme Court termed the move as mere optics without much effect on pollution levels.

First Published Date: 22 Dec 2023, 19:04 PM IST


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Delhi govt postpones Odd-Even rule after Supreme Court questions efficacy

Delhi govt postpones Odd-Even rule after Supreme Court questions efficacy

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By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 10 Nov 2023, 15:07 PM

The Odd-Even rule in Delhi will not be implemented from November 13. Gopal Rai, Environment Minister of Delhi confirmed plans to postpone the scheme on Friday after the Supreme Court came down heavily against the vehicle rationing system. The apex court criticised the Odd-Even rule questioning its efficacy in bringing down pollution level. It said that the scheme will have minimum impact in efforts to curb pollution amid very poor to severe air quality index (AQI) in the national capital. The court has asked the Delhi government to take a call on whether to implement the Odd-Even rule at all.

Delhi government had announced that it will implement Odd-Even rule in the national capital from November 13 to help reduce pollution. However, it later said that the scheme’s implementation will depend on Supreme Court’s review of the vehicle rationing system. (HT Archive) (HT_PRINT)

On Monday, the Delhi government had announced that it will re-introduce the Odd-Even rule in the national capital after four years. The city is currently under grip of severe pollution and smog ahead of Diwali festivities. Anticipating that the air quality will worsen further, the state government had planned to relaunch the vehicle rationing system a day after the festival. However, while addressing a press conference today, Gopal Rai said, “Due to the rainfall last night, the AQI which was 450+ has now reached around 300. In view of this, the decision to implement the odd-even rule has been postponed. The situation would be analysed again after Diwali,” he said while addressing the media.”

Earlier today, the Supreme Court refused to entertain Delhi government’s submission that it will finalise the Odd-Even rule and its modalities, including vehicle exemption and timings, after the court’s order. “Don’t try to not perform and then shift the burden on the court,” the Supreme Court said today. “As per the report from amicus curiae, advocate assisting the court on the issue, odd-even does not help; it will have a minimal impact,” the Supreme Court bench added. The Supreme Court had earlier termed Delhi government’s move to introduce Odd-Even rule as an ‘optics’.

Also Read : After Delhi, Gurugram, Noida and Faridabad ban entry of BS3 petrol, BS4 diesel cars to check pollution

The Odd-Even rule was first introduced back in 2016. It was implemented in 2016, 20017 and 2019. Several studies have been published to determine the efficacy of the Odd-Even rule in effectively bringing down pollution levels. While the scheme helps to reduce vehicular traffic, especially passenger vehicles, it also promotes public transport. However, none of the studies show that Odd-Even rule has helped improve air quality by much in the previous instances.

Also Read : Over 1,300 vehicles fined in Delhi for plying without pollution certificates

The Odd-Even vehicle rationing system restricts private vehicles to operate on alternate days based on their registration numbers. For instance, registration numbers ending with odd numbers will be allowed to ply on odd dates. Cars and two-wheelers which have registration ending with even numbers will be allowed to ply on even dates.

First Published Date: 10 Nov 2023, 15:07 PM IST


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Delhi Minister writes to Centre urging ban on entry of non-BS6 vehicles

Delhi Minister writes to Centre urging ban on entry of non-BS6 vehicles

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Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai wrote a letter to Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, requesting him to ban the entry of vehicles non-compliant with BS6 norms into Delhi from neighbouring states in Delhi-NCR. He also requested to convene an emergency meeting of neighbouring states’ Environment Ministers.

By: ANI
| Updated on: 04 Nov 2023, 17:01 PM

Commuters plying in Delhi on a road shrouded in smog amid hazy weather conditions. Delhi-NCR’s air quality neared the emergency threshold this week, prompting ban on certain vehicles from plying to control pollution level. (PTI)

Gopal Rai said, “Looking at the rise in the level of pollution in the last two days, construction has been banned in Delhi from yesterday. Today there has been an improvement in the level of pollution as compared to yesterday. The situation is still serious. I am writing a letter to the Central Government saying that the Union Environment Minister should call an emergency meeting of the Environment Ministers of all five states immediately. Because the orders of CAQM are not being implemented in the states. Rules are being made, and CAQM is giving directions, but in the whole NCR, rules are being violated. This is the problem of the whole of North India. “

The overall air quality in Delhi continued to remain in the ‘severe’ category for the third straight day on Saturday morning, as per the SAFAR-India.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)-India, the overall air quality in the national capital Delhi (Overall) is in the ‘severe’ category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 504.

Meanwhile, a Senior Lung specialist, at Medanta Hospital, Gurugram Dr Arvind Kumar said, “All age groups are adversely affected by air pollution. You might wonder how an unborn child is affected because that child is not breathing. When the child’s mother is breathing, the toxins go to her lungs; through the lungs, they go into the blood; and through the placenta, they reach the child, and the fetus, and cause damage. When the child is born, they start breathing the same air. Our air quality is around 450-500, which is equal to about 25-30 cigarettes in terms of damage to the body… They have all sorts of breathing problems.”

“From head to toe, there’s no organ in the body that escapes the ill effects of air pollution. There is no evidence to say that it causes obesity, it causes asthma. When there is obesity and exposure to air pollution both present, the chances of asthma become many times higher, as was shown by us, the Lung Care Foundation. In a study of 1,100 children in Delhi, we found that one out of three children is suffering from asthma, and when obesity was also present, this number went higher,” he added.

Speaking on increasing AQI in Delhi, Dr Neeraj Kumar Gupta, Pulmonologist, HoD, Safdarjung Hospital said, “The AQI crossing 400 and going to the severe category is mainly due to factors like combustion. Due to transportation, burning of agricultural waste, and also due to construction-related activities and industrial activities. We are responsible for it. It’s our responsibility to reduce it. Exposure needs to be avoided as pollution is directly responsible for many diseases.

“It is also responsible for affecting the health of children. The vulnerable population is very old people, small children, pregnant ladies, or people already having some respiratory conditions. They need to avoid exposure to this pollution as much as possible… They should confine themselves to their home… If they have any symptoms, then they should visit the doctor to take treatment immediately,” Neeraj Kumar Gupta added.

First Published Date: 04 Nov 2023, 17:01 PM IST


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With pollution spiked, Delhi to see return of Red Light on, Gaadi Off campaign

With pollution spiked, Delhi to see return of Red Light on, Gaadi Off campaign

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By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 26 Oct 2023, 16:20 PM

Delhi is all set to see the return of ‘Red Light on, Gaadi Off’ campaign this season as pollution level in the national capital continues to increase ahead of Diwali festival. Gopal Rai, Environment Minister of Delhi said that the state government is planning to bring back the campaign that aims to reduce vehicular pollution in the national capital region. Delhi and the neighbouring region have already implemented the Graded Response Action Plan or GRAP to reduce polluting vehicles from plying in the city. The government plans stricter action in coming days to keep pollution under check.

Volunteers hold placards at a traffic point as part of the Delhi government’s Red Light On, Gaadi Off campaign to reduce pollution level in the national capital, at ITO. (File photo) (ANI)

The ‘Red Light on, Gaadi Off’ campaign was first launched in 2020 to reduce vehicular pollution as part of the15-point action plan to curb air pollution in Delhi. Earlier, before Covid years, Delhi government resorted to odd-even scheme under which private vehicles with registration plates ending in odd and even numbers were allowed to ply on every alternate days to reduce pollution.

Speaking on bringing back the ‘Red Light on, Gaadi Off’ campaign, Gopal Rai said, “One of the major causes of pollution in the national capital is traffic. To reduce the overall pollution in Delhi, we’ve had to decrease the vehicle pollution. Thus, we are introducing a ‘Red Light on, Gaadi Off’ campaign to create awareness among the public to curb vehicle pollution. In the next phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), eco-friendly bus service will be started. The work to introduce this bus service has already begun.”

The ‘Red Light on, Gaadi Off’ campaign promotes saving precious fuel as well as keep pollution levels in check. Drivers are encouraged to turn off their engines while waiting at traffic signals.

The national capital recorded ‘poor’ air quality on Thursday with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 256. According to SAFAR-India, the air quality around Delhi University recorded ‘very poor’ clocking 316 AQI in the morning. Noida, Delhi’s neighbouring satellite city, recorded ‘poor’ air quality with AQI hovering at 269 while Gurugram was ‘moderate’ at 176 AQI.

First Published Date: 26 Oct 2023, 16:20 PM IST


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