Urgent: Heartbreaking Closure of Delhi’s Pollution Control Centres from Today – Discover the Shocking Reasons Why
Delhi’s PUC Centres to Shut Down Over Insufficient Rate Hike
The Delhi Petrol Dealers’ Association (DPDA) has announced the closure of Pollution Under Control (PUC) centres at petrol pumps across the city, starting from Monday. This move comes in response to the recent rate hike for pollution certificates, which the Delhi government implemented last Thursday after a 13-year gap.
Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot stated that the new charges will take effect upon government notification. The increase ranges from ₹20 to ₹40 for petrol, CNG, and diesel vehicles. However, petrol pump owners argue that this hike is insufficient to cover their operational costs.
In a statement released on Sunday, the DPDA detailed that many PUC centres have already surrendered their licenses due to unviable operations. They emphasized that the last revision in PUC rates took place in 2011, with a substantial 70% increase after a six-year gap. Despite this, operational costs have soared over the past 13 years, with wages tripling and oil marketing companies imposing rents of 10-15% of total revenue from PUC centres—a practice that did not exist earlier.
The statement also pointed out that the revenue from PUC certification has drastically reduced. While customers used to pay four times the current cost when certification was required quarterly, it is now an annual requirement for BS-IV and above vehicles, cutting revenues by 75%.
The DPDA had considered shutting down PUC centres from July 1 but deferred the action after the Transport Minister acknowledged their concerns. Initially, the government proposed a 75% hike based on inflation, leading the DPDA to pause their strike. However, the final hike of an average of 35%, as revealed later, was deemed arbitrary and inadequate.
"The managing committee of the DPDA has decided to close PUC centres at retail outlets across Delhi from July 15," the statement concluded, underscoring their dissatisfaction with the rate revision and its impact on operational sustainability.
Original Story https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-delhi-pollution-under-control-centres-to-be-shut-from-today-know-why-3096882
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