the goan I network
MARGAO
Shortage of Pollution Under Check (PUC) certificate books have left many a motorist in trouble for no fault of theirs.
For the last several days now, several PUC service providers have turned back motorists from carrying out PUC of their vehicles for the simple reason, there’s a shortage of PUC certificate books. The shortage has put the motorists, whose PUC certificate has expired and who are in dire need of the certificates at the time of payment of insurance premium.
“We have been witnessing the PUC certificate book shortage for around 20 days now. Our inquiries with the Transport department have not met with any positive response till date. Motorists approach us for the certificates, but we find themselves in a helpless situation as the supply of the books have not been forthcoming till date,” a PUC service provider told The Goan.
When The Goan called up the Assistant Director of Transport, Prakash Kholkar to throw light on the PUC book shortage, he said his office does not deal with the matter as the same is being handled by the head office.
Deputy Director, Transport Prakash Azavedo, when contacted, conceded about the PUC certificate books shortage. He, however, sought to lay the blame at the doorsteps of the government Printing Press. While conceding that PUC certificates books may be in short supply at some of the outlets of the service providers, Azavedo exuded confidence that the situation may see a turnaround early next week.
“The Transport department had placed a bulk order with the government Printing Press around two months ago for the printing of the PUC books. Due to some reason, however, the Printing press has not yet made the delivery,” Azavedo, said, while saying that the Transport department has now asked the Printing Press to at least print a few books to tide over the situation.
“We expect to receive copies of the PUC books by Monday. In that event, the service providers can approach the Transport department from Tuesday”, he said.
Azavedo, however, insisted that not all the service providers are facing the problem, adding “only those who were placing orders for one or two books are facing the shortage, while many service providers have stocks of the books”.
What’s interesting to know that the insurance companies have now made the PUC certificate mandatory at the time of payment of premium of the vehicles. That’s not all. While RTO and traffic police may or may not insist on the PUC certificates during raids, motorists say the PUC certificates have become mandatory if one travels across the border, especially in places such a Belagavi, wherein the local police insists on a PUC certificate.
