Delhi environment minister announces five-step plan to tackle dust from construction

NEW DELHI: Environment minister Gopal Rai on Monday announced five key measures that every construction and demolition site in the capital will have to follow to tackle dust pollution. Any violation will result in fines.

Rai, who also announced a plan to micro-manage Delhi’s 13 pollution hotspots, said that while Delhi’s government drive against dust pollution initially focused only on large construction sites — with an area of over 20,000 sqm — smaller sites could also be fined for violation of any of these five measures.

The measures include installing windshields and barriers at the periphery of construction sites, covering debris and construction material with tarpaulin, using nets to prevent dust from blowing out, utilising sprinklers to settle dust — and anti-smog guns at large sites, and covering trucks and vehicles and washing their wheels regularly.

“I want to request all government agencies and individuals to follow these five norms. Maintaining these norms are not expensive and if everyone follows these norms, it will help every citizen in the time of Covid to fight this toxic air,” Rai said, warning of stringent action in case of any violation.

“I have witnessed that agencies are only putting covers at the sites when they are getting to know that Delhi government teams will be visiting. This is not the right attitude. This is a collective responsibility of all citizens,” he added.

Referring to Delhi’s 13 pollution hotspots, decided by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Central Pollution Control Board last year, Rai said nine deputy commissioners of the municipal corporations had been appointed as nodal officers to ensure progress on the ground. The hotspots are Rohini, Dwarka, Okhla Phase-II, Punjabi Bagh, Anand Vihar, Vivek Vihar, Wazirpur, Jahangirpuri, RK Puram, Bawana, Mundka, Narela and Mayapuri.

Six hotspots come under South Delhi Municipal Corporation, five under the north and two under the east corporation. “Every government agency should stay in touch with these officers for any work that is required at these hotspots,” said Rai.

Out of the 39 construction sites in Delhi with an area of over 20,000 sqm each, work was stopped at six sites after they were found flouting norms.

The minister said the project site for constructing an office building for Rapid Metro between Delhi and Manesar by National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) at the DDA park opposite Vikas Sadan was the latest to be fined for not following dust norms. DPCC on Sunday fined it Rs 50 lakh.

Delhi government’s Green app to record pollution-related complaints is likely to be launched soon, Rai said.