TNI Bureau: The Transport Department has deferred the enforcement of the “no fuel without a valid pollution certificate” rule to February 1 after reviewing difficulties faced by the public during pollution certificate checks.

The measure, which was earlier scheduled to come into effect from January, has been postponed to give vehicle owners additional time to comply with the requirement under the Motor Vehicles Act. Officials said the decision was taken in view of public concerns and to avoid inconvenience.

During the interim period, vehicle owners who do not possess a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate have been advised to complete the mandatory pollution check at the earliest. The department clarified that until February 1, petrol pumps will not deny fuel to any vehicle on the grounds of lacking a valid pollution certificate.

Meanwhile, the Transport Department will launch extensive awareness programmes across the state to educate vehicle owners about the importance of pollution certification and compliance with environmental norms.

Officials expressed hope that the extended deadline will ensure smoother implementation of the rule while allowing citizens sufficient time to obtain the required certificates.