₹1.3 crore fine imposed on motorists for lack of pollution certificates

Move follows National Green Tribunal’s directive to check increasing air pollution

The Motor Vehicles Department in Kerala collected ₹1.33 crore as penalty from vehicle users for not having the mandatory pollution under control (PUC) certificate in 2021.

A total of 5,697 cases were registered from January to December last year. The largest number of 1,368 cases was recorded in April and ₹18.27 lakh was imposed as penalty. The corresponding fine collected in November and December was ₹24. 26 lakh and ₹24.8 lakh respectively, according to the official figures included in the report submitted by the Secretary, Transport Department before the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal. The tribunal had taken suo motu notice of the worsening air pollution levels in Kerala and had asked the authorities to come up with short and long-term measures to resolve the issue.

In his report before the tribunal, Biju Prabhakar, Transport Secretary, said that Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) had invited tender for the procurement of 310 CNG buses to replace the diesel vehicles as part of the directives issued by the court to check air pollution by promoting use of alternative fuels.