Priti Ranjan Ghadei Opposes Linking Pollution Certificate with Fuel Sale in Odisha
Jajpur, Odisha: Former minister Priti Ranjan Ghadei has strongly opposed the state government’s proposal to link Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates with the sale of fuel at petrol pumps.
Ghadei argued that such a move would place unnecessary burdens on the public, especially in rural and semi‑urban areas where access to emission testing facilities remains limited.
He emphasised that while controlling vehicular pollution is important, denying fuel to vehicles without valid PUC certificates could lead to chaos and inconvenience for ordinary citizens.
Instead, Ghadei suggested that the government should focus on expanding testing infrastructure, raising public awareness, and incentivising compliance rather than enforcing punitive measures.
He highlighted that the policy could disproportionately affect small vehicle owners and daily wage earners who rely on uninterrupted fuel access for their livelihood.
The debate comes amid Odisha’s broader push to strengthen environmental regulations and reduce vehicular emissions.
The proposal has sparked mixed reactions, with some experts supporting stricter enforcement while others echo Ghadei’s concerns about practicality and public hardship.
