Fraudulent Pollution Certificates Impacting Assam's Environment and Revenue

A fraudulent pollution certificate scheme operating in Haryana and Rajasthan is severely impacting Assam, both financially and environmentally. Numerous vehicles in Assam are using fake Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates, leading to significant revenue losses and worsening air quality. This illegal operation, facilitated by local intermediaries, poses serious health risks, particularly to vulnerable populations like children and the elderly. Authorities are now investigating the extent of this racket, which not only represents a loss of state revenue but also threatens public health due to increased pollution levels. The situation highlights the urgent need for stricter enforcement of emission regulations to protect the environment and citizens' health.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 7, 2025, 09:36 IST

Pollution Certificate Scam Affecting Assam

Guwahati, Dec 7: A significant racket involving fake pollution certificates in Haryana and Rajasthan is causing financial and environmental harm to Assam.

Numerous vehicles registered in Assam are reportedly operating with fraudulent Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates obtained from these states, bypassing the essential emission tests.

While operators in Haryana and Rajasthan profit from this scheme, Assam faces substantial revenue losses and deteriorating air quality, which poses serious health risks to its residents.

Sources indicate that intermediaries in Assam are working with PUC operators in Haryana and Rajasthan to issue certificates without any actual emission testing, often at a fraction of the legitimate cost. This illegal operation thrives due to its profitability and lack of oversight.

“No questions asked! Vehicle owners simply provide their registration details, and the Haryana centers generate certificates in minutes. No vehicles ever leave Assam. There are also claims that certificates are digitally altered to mislead authorities,” a source revealed, sharing copies of several such certificates.

“Certain centers can issue a certificate even if the vehicle is located far away,” the source added.

“It’s inexpensive, quick, and rarely scrutinized. Agents from Assam frequently coordinate with these centers via WhatsApp, making it a daily routine. They know which centers won’t require physical checks,” another insider noted.

Assam’s transport department generates revenue through authorized PUC centers and fines for non-compliance.

A senior official from the District Transport Office (DTO) mentioned that with approximately 5 million registered vehicles in the state, even a modest compliance rate could yield significant revenue.

“On average, around 7,000 new vehicles are registered daily in Assam, with Kamrup (Metro) alone having nearly 1.2 million vehicles,” he stated.

A conservative estimate suggests that PUC fees could bring in around ₹25 crore annually, with additional penalties for non-compliance potentially adding another ₹8 crore.

“If thousands of certificates are being illegally obtained from Haryana and Rajasthan, this revenue is disappearing,” remarked a transport department official.

Another senior official acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating, “We are investigating. If the allegations are substantiated, we will thoroughly investigate the racket.”

“This is systematic revenue theft. Every fraudulent PUC issued outside Assam represents money lost to the state. However, the environmental consequences are even more concerning,” commented an environmental activist based in Guwahati.

“Vehicles that would fail emission tests in Assam due to poor maintenance or tampered exhaust systems are operating freely with fake certificates. This poses a significant public health risk, especially for children and the elderly. These vehicles emit 2 to 5 times more pollutants,” a source from the automobile sector explained.

“When emission standards are ignored, the air becomes toxic. Children and the elderly are the most vulnerable,” stated a retired Pollution Control Board officer.

India’s emission control regulations are governed by the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989, which mandates PUC certification and physical testing.

Rule 116 stipulates that states must oversee authorized centers, and issuing certificates across state lines without testing is illegal.

“This is not merely a corruption issue; it’s a matter of life, death, and the air millions are compelled to breathe,” said Tulika Baishya, a Guwahati resident.