Transport department officials had toured the city to study technology used in Singapore
The Delhi government is all set to take a cue from Singapore to strengthen its Pollution Under Control (PUC) testing norms for which it has come under the scanner, as the city witnessed toxic levels of pollution with vehicular emissions being one of the major factors. Officials from the transport department had recently toured the city to study the technology used in Singapore.
The observations will be part of the PUC strengthening programme, said sources. The move has come after the Supreme Court asked the government to implement the recommendations given by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) in its audit reports of the PUC tests in Delhi-NCR earlier this year on upgrading technology for issuing fitness certificates to vehicles.
The EPCA has recommended technological advancements in the checking equipment connecting the diagnosis to the PUC to cut down on vehicular emissions.
The EPCA is an SC-appointed body appointed to curb air pollution in the city. It had found in its report that the PUC norms being followed were weak while the test units used outdated technology.
According to a senior official, vehicle-testing for pollution in the Capital is done when it is in idle mode and does not show the actual levels of emissions because of which the rejection rate is too low.
"Most developed cities, including Singapore have switched to load-mode testing (when the vehicle is in operation) which produces accurate readings. Besides, the PUC centres issuing fitness certificates are organised and follow uniform norms with an equally trained staff. In Delhi, vehicle-testing is done at the no-load condition. It is a setback to see visible smoke from poorly maintained vehicles, which must change now. A presentation for the same will be put forth for discussion soon," he said.
The department had carried out an inspection of these PUC centres this year between February and August, which revealed that of the 957 registered centres in the city, action against 353 was taken for various complaints.
Of the 353 centres, 178 were issued discrepancy/deficiency notices, 134 were issued showcause notices, 27 centres were issued a warning, 14 were suspended while licenses of eight centres were cancelled.
PUC CENTRES IN TROUBLE
Total number of PUC centres in Delhi 957
Action taken against 353
Discrepancy/deficiency notices issued to 178
Showcause notices issued to 134
Warnings issued to 27
Licenses suspended of 14
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Pollution")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}