Bhubaneswar: Odisha Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena has criticized the opposition party for misleading the public regarding the Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) and the Rs 10,000 fine imposed for non-compliance.
Jena pointed out that the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government had implemented this fine in 2019 and is now trying to shift the blame. The current government plans to reduce this fine, he said.
Jena highlighted the progress made in increasing pollution testing centers from 52 in 2019 to over 1,500 registered centers with more than 2,000 active machines. The government is also allowing new centers to open within 24 hours of application. Despite this, only 21% of vehicles in Odisha have obtained PUCC, making enforcement necessary, Jena added .
The minister emphasized that the government is committed to public interest, environmental protection, and law enforcement, and is open to reconsidering decisions based on public demands.
