No insurance for cars without 'pollution under control' certificate: SC
According to a new directive by the SC, insurance of cars that don't have pollution under control (PUC) certificates won't be renewed. To ease the process, it also asked the Centre to ensure functional PUC centres in the NCR, and that all fuel stations have should PUC centres. The directions came on a PIL against pollution filed in 1985 by environmentalist MC Mehta.
Delhi-NCR has a severe air pollution problem
According to a 2015 WHO study, Delhi was then the most polluted city in the world. Particulates of contaminated air topped at 999 micrograms per cubic meter-40 times more than WHO-prescribed standards. Diwali often adds to the problem. Last year, particulate matter in Delhi rose to 743 on the air-quality index. A Greenpeace report claimed 1.2mn people die in India annually due to air-pollution.
The odd-even scheme: Delhi government's attempt to curb pollution
To combat pollution, the Delhi government announced in December 2015 that movement of private vehicles will be restricted to alternate days according to their registration number. However, in October 2016, the CPCB said air quality had worsened after the implementation of odd-even scheme.
This isn't the SC's first attempt at curbing pollution
In April, the SC prohibited the registration and sale of BS-III vehicles to control air pollution. The change in two-wheelers was expected to reduce the CO emission by 25% and HC+NOx by 40-45%. In diesel vehicles, the change would lead to over 50% less emission of HC+NOx and 60% of CO. For petrol vehicles, there would be 20% less CO and 50% less HC+NOx.
