The planned strike by petrol pump owners in Delhi has been deferred after the government assured them that their demand for an increase in the fee for issuing Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates would be considered. As a result, PUC certification centres across the national capital will continue to operate as usual on Monday.
The decision to halt the strike came after discussions were held between representatives of the petrol pump associations and Delhi’s Transport Minister. The associations had earlier threatened to shut down all PUC certification centres starting Monday due to dissatisfaction over the low fees they receive for testing vehicle emissions.
Petrol Pump Owners’ Demands
The primary demand from the petrol pump owners was a revision of the PUC certification fee, which had not been increased since 2011. Currently, the fees for conducting pollution tests for vehicles are set at Rs 60 for petrol and CNG-driven two and three-wheelers, Rs 80 for petrol-run four-wheelers, and Rs 100 for diesel four-wheelers.
Given the rising operational costs and inflation, the pump owners argued that these fees were no longer sufficient to cover the costs of maintaining the PUC testing centres. They also expressed concerns about the increasing cost of technology, equipment, and manpower required to operate the centres.
Government Assurance
After negotiations with the transport minister, the government provided assurances that the issue would be looked into and the demand for a fee hike would be carefully considered. Following this assurance, the petrol pump associations decided to defer their strike and continue the operation of the PUC centres.
“We have been assured by the transport minister that our concerns regarding the PUC fee hike will be addressed. The fee has not been revised for more than a decade, and the current rates do not account for the increased costs we are facing. However, after the discussions, we have decided to defer the strike and wait for the government to take action,” said a spokesperson from one of the petrol pump associations.
Importance of PUC Certificates
Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates are mandatory for all vehicles in India to ensure they meet the required emission standards. These certificates are issued after testing the vehicle for pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. The test helps monitor and control vehicular emissions, which are a significant contributor to air pollution in cities like Delhi.
Delhi, in particular, has struggled with high levels of air pollution, often breaching hazardous levels during the winter months. Ensuring that vehicles comply with emission standards through the PUC certification process is crucial in mitigating the city’s air quality crisis.
The deferral of the strike brings temporary relief to motorists in Delhi, who rely on PUC certification centres to keep their vehicles compliant with emission standards. However, the demand for a revision of the PUC fee remains unresolved, and petrol pump owners are hopeful that the government will take prompt action. With increasing operational costs and the need for improved technology to ensure accurate emission testing, an adjustment in fees could be necessary to maintain the effectiveness of the PUC certification system.