Dust and control norms violated by more than 23 construct and demolition sites in Delhi, says DPCC

To carry out the inspection Delhi Construction Control Committee deployed a total of 11 teams in the different areas of Delhi which includes Janpath, Murnika, Connaught Place, Mayapuri, Connaught Circus, Naraina Vihar, Vasant Vihar, Sagarpur, Vasant Kunj, Nangal Raya, Khan market, Pandara Road and several areas encircling ITO.

On Thursday an inspection conducted by the DPCC (Delhi Pollution Control Committee) found that across Delhi, construction and demolition sites were violating dust control norms set by the government. For the removal of deficiencies, a show-cause notice and imposition of environmental compensation of Rs 16.4 lakh will be issued to the violators, as per the officials.

Construction and demolishment sites amassing a built-up area of 20,000 square meters were detected. Of the 47 such sites, 23 were found not obeying the dust control protocols.

To carry out the inspection Delhi Construction Control Committee deployed a total of 11 teams in the different areas of Delhi which includes Janpath, Murnika, Connaught Place, Mayapuri, Connaught Circus, Naraina Vihar, Vasant Vihar, Sagarpur, Vasant Kunj, Nangal Raya, Khan market, Pandara Road and several areas encircling ITO.

A report by the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water in 2019 found that road dust account for up to 65 percent of PM10 pollution and approximately 38 percent of PM2.5 pollution in the city.

Gopal Rai, Environment Minister, to lower dust pollution in the city, had instructed all private building agencies to follow its 14-point guidelines. In the guidelines issued, it was mentioned to use a covered tin shed at construction sites. The sites possessing more than 20,000 square meters will have to deploy anti-smog guns.

Also, all the vehicles delivering construction material should be filled in and collection of construction and demolition (C&D) waste should not be there on the roadside. Similarly, the grinding of stones will also not be permitted in the open area. According to the guidelines on-site, all C&D waste has to be recycled or transferred to appointed recycling facilities.

It is compulsory to install wind-breaking walls of proper height around the boundary of the construction site and tarpaulin or green net encircling around the region which is under construction and the building.