New Delhi:- Cracking the whip on construction projects across the city, the Delhi government has penalised 14 Delhi Metro sites and 42 major projects for flouting dust pollution norms, imposing on them environmental compensation charge of Rs 50,000 each.
Nearly all the metro sites to have been penalised are part of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s (DMRC) 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) in this regard are South Ex, INA, Sarojini Nagar, Bhikaji Cama 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 respirable particles that harm the respiratory system.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) maintained that it takes a number of measures for having proper air quality near its construction sites, scattered across the city, and will further “reassess” the situation.
Home Minister Satyender Jain said that among Delhi’s major 48 construction projects, 42 have been challaned this week, over and above last week’s 46 challans. All the projects cover more than 20,000 sq metre area.
Jain, the nodal minister on anti-pollution initiatives, today held a review meeting with various agencies on action taken by them for burning of waste in open and violation of dust control measures at construction and demolition sites.
He said that the revenue department has mopped up around Rs 41 lakh over the last one-and-a-half months and has issued 373 challans for dust norm violations and around Rs 95,000 by issuing 61 challans for open waste burning.
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), which has issued 621 challans for dust norm violations, has received Rs 25 lakh as compensation amount. Jain said that not all the violators have paid the fine amount. .
PTI
