New Delhi takes practical steps against smog; Lahore only declared calamity hit

As the climate change phenomenon is taking its toll on the sub-continent, the Indian capital New Delhi and Pakistan’s Punjab capital Lahore remained in a race to win the top spot among the most polluted cities in the world for the last few years.

Despite tall claims, Punjab being governed by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf for the last four years failed to adopt any practical measures whenever the smog season arrives. This year too, the government has completed its responsibility by declaring the capital provincial city as calamity-hit only and some superficial instructions to combat the smog.

However, on the other hand, the government in New Delhi looks quite determined to save its citizens from the hazardous smog and started taking practical measures.

In this regard, the Delhi government asked all fuel stations in the city to sell fuel from October 25 to only those vehicles which have valid Pollution Under Control Certificates.

In a notice issued by the transport department, owners of vehicles more than a year old (except electric or battery-driven vehicles) were also asked to get Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCCs) for their vehicles.

The department is issuing notices to vehicle owners without valid PUCCs to get them within a week or face suspension of registration certificates.

Apart from this, the city government has also formed teams to check buses coming from neighbouring states at the Anand Vihar bus terminal for PUCCs. The transport department has asked vehicle owners to obtain valid PUCCs before October 25 to avoid inconvenience and action as per law.

"Driving a vehicle without a valid PUCC is liable to attract a penalty of ₹10,000 and imprisonment up to three months or both," the notice read.

The Delhi government has intensified its crackdown on vehicles without valid PUCCs in an effort to control pollution levels.