Driving sans pollution certificate? Be ready to cough up penalty

Ramkrishan Upadhyay 

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 16

In view of the increasing pollution level in the city, the traffic police and the State Transport Authority will hold a drive against vehicles violating the pollution norms.

UT Adviser Parimal Rai has issued a direction to officials of the two departments to start a joint drive and penalise motorists not having pollution certificate of vehicles. 

The direction has been issued during a meeting of the Road Safety Council held here on Wednesday. Sources said the UT Adviser asked officials to send weekly reports regarding the checking to him. 

Sources said all types of non-transport and transport vehicles would be checked during the drive. 

Under the Motor Vehicles Act, it is mandatory for vehicle owner to carry a valid ‘pollution under control certificate’. Violators are liable to be prosecuted under Section 190(2) of the Act with a penalty of Rs 1,000 for the first time and Rs 2,000 for every subsequent violation.

Computerised facilities for checking of pollution levels and issuance of PUC certificates are available at several petrol pumps/workshops in the city.

A PUC certificate is required for each motor vehicle one year from the date of its first registration.

The UT Adviser has also directed the traffic police to start drive against overloaded auto-rickshaws carrying schoolchildren.