In India, the issue of vehicular pollution has escalated, prompting authorities to seek stricter measures and advocate for green fuels like CNG, LNG, biofuel, and ethanol-blend, as well as the adoption of electric vehicles. Recent reports have surfaced regarding the development of an automated system in Pune aimed at identifying and penalising vehicles lacking a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate, with fines amounting to a hefty Rs 10,000.Importance of PUC CertificatesPUC certificates are instrumental in ensuring that vehicles comply with emission standards, contributing to cleaner air quality. These certificates evaluate a vehicles exhaust emissions, measuring pollutants like carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.Operational Details of the SystemThe proposed system in Pune involves upgrading petrol pumps with advanced automated cameras. These cameras will be capable of scanning vehicle registration numbers and cross-referencing them with a centralised database to verify PUC status.Penalties and ComplianceDrivers found with expired PUC certificates will receive instant fines directly on their registered mobile phones. However, a grace period may be provided for compliance, typically lasting a day, enabling drivers to renew their PUC before fines are finalised. Its important to note that official confirmation from authorities is pending, and the timeline for the systems implementation remains uncertain.
