SHILLONG: A prominent Meghalaya-based pressure group, the Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO), has formally appealed to Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, who also oversees the Transport portfolio, to scrap the current manual system for updating Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCCs). The group contends that the existing process, which mandates in-person updates at District Transport Offices (DTOs), is inefficient and unduly burdensome on vehicle owners across the state.
In a communication dispatched via Commissioner & Secretary Sanjay Goyal, HITO referenced a public notice dated May 22, 2025. This notice, they highlighted, reinforces Rule 115(2) of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, making valid PUCCs mandatory for all vehicles. Crucially, non-compliance with the updated rule leads to the automatic suspension of vital services such as tax payments, permit renewals, and the issuance of registration certificates.
HITO, after engaging with various stakeholders, has characterised the manual update requirement as a squandering of state resources and an unnecessary imposition on the public. In its place, the organisation has put forth a robust digital solution: a system where PUCC data would be directly uploaded from Pollution Testing Stations (PTS) into the government’s central database, bypassing the need for manual intervention at DTOs.
Drawing a parallel with the neighbouring state of Assam, HITO pointed out that a similar system is already operational there. In Assam, PTS directly upload data, which is then readily accessible through platforms like the VAHAN app. HITO has strongly advocated for the Meghalaya government to adopt a comparable mechanism, arguing that such digitisation would not only streamline operations and reduce bureaucratic red tape but also play a significant role in curbing potential corruption.
The organisation has also conveyed its readiness to work hand-in-hand with the government to fine-tune existing regulations and has sought support in implementing the proposed digital solution, underscoring its commitment to a more efficient and transparent system for vehicle owners in Meghalaya.
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