Leader of the Opposition and BJD President Naveen Patnaik criticized the Odisha government for mishandling Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate enforcement, causing chaos and inconvenience to the public. Patnaik, a former Chief Minister, accused the BJP-led government of “gross mismanagement” and inconsistent policies regarding PUC certification.
He highlighted that the abrupt implementation of the “No PUC, No Fuel” rule from January 1, 2026, led to long queues at testing centers statewide. Patnaik criticized the lack of preparation, expansion of testing infrastructure, and awareness campaigns by the government, resulting in public outrage.
The government faced backlash and had to postpone the enforcement multiple times, eventually offering a grace period until April 1 without fines or e-detection at toll gates. Patnaik emphasized the need for better governance, efficient policies, and consideration for citizens’ welfare in implementing pollution control measures.
He expressed solidarity with the people and vowed to continue protesting against the government’s handling of the situation. Patnaik urged the authorities to improve PUC testing facilities, simplify processes, and avoid imposing undue penalties on citizens during the transition period.
