Vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate will be barred from refueling at petrol pumps in Delhi starting December 18, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced on Tuesday. Vehicle owners have been given one day to comply with the norms.

Cameras installed at fuel stations will automatically detect vehicles lacking valid PUCs, and such vehicles will be denied fuel without confrontation, he said. Over 8 lakh vehicle owners currently without valid PUCs have already faced penalties.

Sirsa added that only BS-VI compliant vehicles from outside Delhi will be allowed entry into the city from Thursday until further orders. Criticizing the previous AAP government, he alleged that they failed to implement effective pollution control measures despite a decade in power.

Highlighting government initiatives, Sirsa said Delhi’s air quality remained better for nearly eight months in 2025 compared to the previous year. Efforts to reduce pollution include reclaiming 45 acres of legacy waste land, lowering garbage heaps by 15 metres, and launching extensive plantation drives. Over 2,000 pollution-monitoring plants have been installed, and fines worth Rs 9.21 crore collected.

He also noted progress in public transport, with 3,400 electric buses currently in operation and plans to expand the fleet to 7,500. Measures against pollution hotspots, stricter enforcement on construction material carriers, and support for biomethanation plants with 10,000 heaters were also highlighted.

A scientific committee and the Commission for Air Quality Management have been engaged to recommend effective pollution-control strategies.

Cameras installed at fuel stations will automatically detect vehicles lacking valid PUCs, and such vehicles will be denied fuel without confrontation

Manjinder Singh Sirsa Delhi Environment Minister