Dust pollution: 14 Delhi Metro sites fined Rs 50,000 each

The Asian Age , Thursday, January 14, 2016
Correspondent :

Acting tough on the construction sites flouting dust pollution norms, the Delhi government has penalised 14 Delhi Metro sites and 42 major projects, imposing environmental compensation charge of Rs 50,000 each. Nearly all the Metro sites penalised are part of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s third phase expansion, and more specifically, the upcoming stations of the proposed Pink Line (Line 7) that will connect Mukundpur to Shiv Vihar.

Some of the upcoming station sites (including extensions of existing ones) are South Extension, INA, Sarojini Nagar, BhikajiCama Place, Moti Bagh, and South Campus. A report by IIT Kanpur on Delhi’s air quality has identified soil and road dust as the single biggest source (38 per cent) of PM 2.5, fine particles that harm the respiratory system.

The DMRC maintained that it takes a number of measures near its construction sites, scattered across the city, and will further “reassess” the situation.

Delhi home minister Satyendar Jain said that among the city’s major 48 construction projects, 42 have been challaned this week, over and above last week’s 46 fines. All the projects cover more than 20,000 sq.m. area.

Mr Jain, the nodal minister on anti-pollution initiatives, on Wednesday held a review meeting with various agencies on action taken against burning of waste in open and violation of dust control measures at construction and demolition sites.

The revenue department has mopped up around Rs 41 lakh over the last one-and-a-half months and has issued 373 fines for dust violations and around Rs 95,000 by issuing 61 fines for open waste burning. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), which has issued 621 challans for dust norm violations, has collected Rs 25 lakh. Mr Jain said that not all the violators have paid the fine amount.

In the meeting, Mr Jain “took serious” note of the inappropriate action taken report provided by the Delhi Development Authority despite observations of regular incidences of garbage burning in its areas.

“Inspections are mandatorily undertaken every 15 days,” the minister said, adding that SDMC challaned one of its own officers as leaves were being burnt in the park of which that official was the supervisor. “We have strictly instructed the agencies to penalise their officials for failing to check such instances,” Mr Jain said. He also observed that North Delhi Municipal Corporation will have to take more efforts for controlling dust emanating from construction sites.

Delhi Metro said that it carries out air monitoring in three stages, prior to the start of construction, during construction to monitor the impact and during operation stage to map the impact in reducing air pollution. It said that only Pollution Under Control certified vehicles are allowed inside DMRC premises and that regular checking is also carried out to ensure the validation of the certificate.

It also has the provision for imposing penalty on its contractors in cases of non-compliance of the “conditions of contract” and its project environment manual.

The 15-point dust pollution guidelines of DPCC include checking whether any construction materials or debris are stored dumped on roads or whether the construction area has protective scaffolding around it among others.

Vehicles carrying the construction material and debris are also required to be fully covered and workers are to be provided with masks to prevent inhalation of dust particles.

 
SOURCE : http://www.asianage.com/delhi/dust-pollution-14-delhi-metro-sites-fined-rs-50000-each-847
 


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