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Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, SEPT 15: In the strongest series of measures to curb automobile pollution, the Motor Vehicles Department has declared that petrol will not be sold in the island city without the mandatory Pollution Under Control PUC certificate.
8220;Vehicle owners must realise that a properly tuned vehicle not only reduces emissions but also results in a fuel saving of 15 per cent,8221; Transport Commissioner Vinay Mohan Lal told presspersons in the city on Wednesday. In the first phase, the new order is applicable to the island city of South Mumbai up to Mahim and Sion.
From November 1, vehicles will not be allowed to enter Mumbai city unless they have PUC certificates. This order will be applicableall over Maharashtra from January 1, 2000, Lal announced.
Vehicular pollution comprises over 70 per cent of pollution in the city. The new measures are a continuation of the department8217;s drive against polluting commercial vehicles which began in July this year during which registrations of over 6,000 polluting vehicles were suspended for three months. In the second phase of the drive beginning on October 15, the MVD plans to cover two- and three-wheelers as well.
Lal said taxis in South Mumbai are the biggest pollutors while autorickshaws were the culprits in the suburbs. In the department8217;s second phase, petrol will not be sold to autos unless they produce PUC certificates.
All the 400 PUC centres in the city have been informed of the new orders and have been requested to cooperate, Lal said, adding that criminal action would be iniatiated against PUC centres issuing bogus certificates. The new, modified PUC certificate will be made mandatory from October 1 and will have to be prominently displayed onthe vehicles8217; windscreens.
The old sticker, valid for six months, has been replaced by three new ones in red, yellow and green depending on the quantum of emissions. The green sticker is valid for six months, the yellow certificate for four months and the red certificate issued for vehicles closest to the pollution levels will be valid for only two months.
8220;Pollution is like Lord Jagganath8217;s chariot, unless everyone puts a hand on it, it cannot be moved,8221; Lal said, requesting public participation in the drive.
In order to give sufficient opportunity to vehicle owners, a series of PUC tests would be conducted by vehicle manufacturers, the WIAA, oil companies and PUC centres.
Nitin Dossa, president of the Western India Automobile Association WIAA, has welcomed the MVD8217;s move. 8220;If my members don8217;t have PUC certificates, then their vehicles should be impounded,8221; he said.
