Delhi: NDMC Imposes Rs 50,000 Fine For Dust Pollution At Construction Sites Amid 'Poor' Air Quality

Due to the sustained 'poor' Air Quality Index (AQI) for the past few days in Delhi, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 1 has been implemented in the capital city.

As the air quality in the national capital dropped to 'poor' during the festive season the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has intensified its efforts to rigorously implement the Winter Action Plan (WAP) 2024-25 and taking stern action against defaulters. Rising pollution levels in Delhi during the winter season is a perennial issue and one of the contributing factors to it is dust pollution. 

To curb dust pollution, the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) has carried out inspections at construction sites, issuing challans of Rs 50,000 for each violation of dust mitigation measures.

"The NDMC has constituted inspection of construction sites for enforcing dust mitigation measures, and as many as 30 challans of Rs 50,000 each (total Rs 15 lakh) have been issued as per the guidelines of National Green Tribunal (NGT)," an NDMC statement said on Wednesday.

The civic body is taking varied initiatives to curb air pollution, and violators are fined for the violations by teams who carry out the inspection, supervise and monitor the action, the statement said.  The civic body has reportedly formed 386 surveillance teams, comprising 1,307 members, to monitor and prevent the open burning of garbage and illegal dumping of construction and demolition (C&D) waste.

According to the statement, the civic body's Public Health Department has also issued 290 challans of Rs 48,747 to those who violate rules on public hygiene, solid waste management, littering, single-use plastic, burning of waste or dry leaves in public places.

Further, the statement said that NDMC has deployed six mechanical road sweepers, eight mobile anti-smog guns, one static anti-smog gun-cum-mist spray machine and 20 water sprinklers.

GRAP Stage 1 Implemented In Delhi

Due to the sustained 'poor' Air Quality Index (AQI) for the past few days in Delhi, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 1 was implemented on Tuesday. Stage 1 of the GRAP, a set of winter-specific anti-pollution measures, focuses on controlling pollution through dust mitigation at construction sites, proper waste management, and regular road cleaning. It also mandates strict checks on polluting vehicles, better traffic management, and emission controls in industries, power plants, and brick kilns.