Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 27: In a decisive move to curb the Capital’s worsening air quality, the Delhi government has made two key restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-4 permanent, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced on Friday.
Under the new directive, vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will no longer be allowed to purchase petrol until further notice. Additionally, vehicles entering Delhi from outside the city that do not meet Bharat Stage VI (BS6) emission standards will face entry restrictions indefinitely.
“These measures are now permanent,” Sirsa said, stressing that compliance with PUCC and BS6 standards is crucial to controlling vehicular emissions, one of the major contributors to Delhi’s air pollution. “A vehicle running without a valid PUCC certificate is no less than committing a crime against Delhi’s air,” he added.
The announcement comes as Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category for the second consecutive day on Saturday, with the average AQI reaching 391 at 10 pm. Despite a brief improvement earlier this week, pollution levels have fluctuated dangerously, with the AQI touching ‘severe’ levels on December 23.
By making these measures permanent, the Delhi government aims to establish long-term compliance mechanisms to tackle air pollution and protect the health of residents in the Capital.