Bhubaneswar, 11 January (H.S.): Odisha Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena on Sunday accused the opposition of misleading the public over the Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) and the ₹10,000 penalty imposed for non-compliance, asserting that the fine was introduced during the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government.

Addressing the issue, Jena said the BJD had implemented the penalty in 2019 and is now attempting to shift responsibility. He added that the present government intends to reduce the fine in order to provide relief to vehicle owners.

Highlighting steps taken to strengthen pollution monitoring infrastructure, the minister said the number of pollution testing centres in the state has increased significantly—from 52 in 2019 to more than 1,500 registered centres with over 2,000 active testing machines. He also said that new centres are now being approved within 24 hours of application.

Despite these improvements, Jena pointed out that only about 21 per cent of vehicles in Odisha currently possess a valid PUCC, making enforcement necessary to ensure compliance with environmental norms.

The minister reiterated that the government remains committed to protecting public interest, improving air quality, and enforcing the law. He also said the administration is open to reviewing and revising policies in response to public concerns.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda