Bhubaneswar, Jan 9: Leader of Opposition and Biju Janata Dal president Naveen Patnaik has strongly criticised the BJP government over its handling of the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate enforcement, terming it “gross mismanagement” and a result of “repeated policy flip-flops.”

Taking to his X handle, Patnaik said the sudden announcement of the “No PUC, No Fuel” rule, effective from January 1, 2026, triggered widespread chaos across Odisha. He pointed out that people were forced to stand in massive queues at PUC testing centres due to the government’s lack of preparation.

The former Chief Minister alleged that the state government failed to expand testing infrastructure, carry out advance planning, or launch adequate public awareness campaigns. As a result, common citizens are facing severe inconvenience, he said.

Patnaik asserted that the BJD stands firmly with the people of Odisha and will continue protesting against what he described as the BJP government’s mismanagement. He urged the government to scale up PUC facilities, simplify procedures, and avoid imposing undue penalties during the transition period.

While emphasising the importance of controlling vehicular pollution, Patnaik said environmental measures should not come at the cost of harassing citizens.

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