Haryana Enforces No PUC No Fuel Rule at Petrol Pumps

Editorial Deep Dive & Context

The Haryana Transport Department has directed all petrol pump operators in the National Capital Region (NCR) districts to strictly implement the 'No PUC, No Fuel' policy starting October 1, 2026. This enforcement aligns with Direction No. 101 issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on May 15, 2026, aiming to mitigate adverse air quality conditions driven significantly by vehicular emissions, which account for approximately 23% of PM2.5 loads during winter months. To facilitate compliance, the state government is installing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at 2,780 fuel stations across the region, linking them to the VAHAN database and online PUC records for real-time verification. Until full automation is achieved by September 30, staff must manually verify certificates or deny fuel to non-compliant vehicles while recording their registration numbers. Operators are also required to display bilingual warning boards and direct violators to authorized testing centers. Non-compliance with these directions constitutes an offense under Section 14 of the CAQM Act, punishable by imprisonment up to five years or fines up to ₹1 crore, alongside existing Motor Vehicle Rules fines of up to ₹10,000. The initiative seeks to synchronize emission control efforts across NCR states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan

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