New Delhi, Dec 20 (UNI) The Delhi government’s decision to strictly enforce the ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ policy has triggered a sharp surge in the issuance of Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCCs) across the national capital, official data stated on Saturday.
According to government figures, more than 61,000 PUCCs were issued in just about a day between December 17 and December 18, following the announcement by Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on December 16 that vehicles without a valid PUC certificate would not be supplied fuel.
On December 17 alone, 29,938 PUC certificates were issued, while another 31,974 were generated by 5:20 pm on December 18, taking the total to over 61,000 in roughly 24 hours. Officials expect the upward trend to continue as more vehicle owners rush to comply before refuelling.
The surge is also evident when compared with the preceding days. Between December 10 and December 15, daily PUCC issuance hovered between around 16,000 and 18,000 certificates.
The numbers rose marginally to 17,732 on December 16, the day the policy was announced, before jumping to 31,197 on December 17 and further to 45,479 on December 18. By December 19, issuance climbed to 49,612, reflecting sustained compliance driven by on-ground enforcement.
Enforcement data mirrors this intensified drive. Between December 17 and 18, teams challaned 3,746 vehicles for not possessing a valid PUCC. Overall, around 11,776 challans were issued against polluting and non-compliant vehicles during the December 18 and 19.
The policy push was reinforced at a high-level meeting held on December 17, when the Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa met stakeholders, including representatives of the petrol pump dealers’ association, and stressed that pollution control is a shared responsibility.
Fuel supply to vehicles without a valid PUC certificate, he reiterated, is prohibited, and all dealers must ensure strict compliance.
In a statement, the minister said the government had to adopt “tough but necessary steps” to bring down pollution levels.
He appealed to residents, vehicle owners, offices and institutions to comply with GRAP restrictions, work-from-home advisories and the ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ norms so that emergency measures can be relaxed at the earliest.
However, petrol pump dealers have flagged concerns. Delhi Petrol Dealers Association (DPDA) president Nischal Singhania said that dealers across the capital are following the “No PUCC, No Fuel” directive, but have witnessed a substantial drop in petrol and diesel sales. He argued that a Delhi-only restriction could be counterproductive, as customers may simply refuel in neighbouring states.
“Pollution doesn’t respect geographical boundaries. To effectively tackle this menace, similar measures should be implemented across the entire NCR,” DPDA president said.
Officials stated that to ensure smooth enforcement, teams from the Delhi Transport Department have been deputed at petrol pumps.
The Environment Minister has instructed officials and pump staff to advise drivers politely and guide them to nearby PUC centres instead of getting into disputes.
“This campaign is not to cause inconvenience but to make Delhi’s air breathable again. Every Delhiite must ensure their vehicle’s PUC certificate is up to date. More than a rule, it’s a collective responsibility,” he said.
With data clearly showing a behavioural shift among vehicle owners, officials see the spike in PUCC issuance as an early sign that stricter enforcement, coupled with outreach, could play a significant role in Delhi’s fight against worsening air pollution.
