Delhi air pollution: MCD fines fail to deter violators as AQI hits season’s worst level

Despite issuing thousands of challans for activities that contribute to air pollution, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has recovered only a small share of the penalties imposed, with its own records showing a wide gap between fines levied and money collected. The enforcement shortfall is particularly significant as Delhi enters the period when construction dust, waste burning and unfavourable weather conditions can combine to worsen air quality.

MCD records for 2024 and 2025 show that the number of challans against construction sites rose, but collections remained a fraction of the total penalties. In 2024, the civic body issued around 2,600 challans against construction sites for violations and imposed fines totalling about Rs 5.3 crore. Only around Rs 45 lakh was recovered.

The figures were similar in 2025. About 3,300 challans were issued, up roughly 23% from the previous year, and penalties worth around Rs 5.5 crore were imposed. However, MCD recovered only about Rs 33 lakh, equivalent to nearly 6% of the total amount, as reported by TOI.


The numbers have prompted questions over whether issuing challans alone is enough to prevent repeated violations, particularly when a large proportion of the penalties remains unpaid.

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Fines have failed to create enough deterrence

MCD officials and councillors have pointed to enforcement difficulties on the ground. BJP councillor from Jhilmil, Pankaj Luthra, said the existing system was not deterring enough violators and claimed that only around 10-20% of people were adhering to the required norms, TOI reported.

“If we go by the records, hardly 10-20% people are adhering to the process,” Luthra said, adding that manpower shortages within the department were delaying follow-up action against violators.

Councillors from different parties also raised concerns over MCD’s preparedness during the House meeting on September 29, including allegations that construction activity continued without adequate compliance during periods when restrictions were in force.

Under Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan, when Delhi’s AQI is between 201 and 300, construction and demolition activity is generally allowed, but dust-control measures have to be strictly followed. Violations can attract fines of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh under applicable norms.

As restrictions tighten under GRAP Stage II, construction sites face stronger dust-mitigation requirements. Under Stage III, non-essential construction and demolition work is required to stop, with civic authorities empowered to take stricter action, including sealing violating sites.

Open-burning challans show another enforcement gap

The problem is not limited to construction sites. MCD’s records also show a sharp rise in challans for open burning, but no corresponding recovery figures.

In 2024, the civic body issued more than 190 challans for open burning and imposed penalties of around Rs 4.4 lakh. MCD records did not specify how much of that amount was recovered.

In 2025, the number of challans increased nearly fourfold to around 800, with penalties totalling approximately Rs 8.7 lakh. Yet the records again did not contain details of the amount collected.

Under directions issued by the National Green Tribunal, a person found burning garbage, leaves or similar material, or responsible for or abetting such burning, is liable to pay Rs 5,000 under Section 15. An MCD official said many such incidents involve unidentified people or individuals who are unaware of the rules, making it difficult for civic staff to recover the penalties.

“The SDM (revenue) can prosecute offenders if challans are not paid,” the official told TOI.

Delhi records season’s worst AQI as pollution concerns rise

The enforcement questions come against a deteriorating air-quality backdrop. Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI reached 187 on Sunday, October 4, the highest reading of the season so far and near the upper end of the ‘moderate’ category. The AQI had touched 196 at 10 am before settling at 187 at 4 pm.

At least 19 monitoring stations recorded ‘poor’ air quality during the day. At 4 pm, CPCB data showed Mundka as the city’s most polluted station with an AQI of 273, followed by CRRI Mathura Road and Narela at 258 each. Neighbouring Noida recorded an AQI of 281 and Ghaziabad 248, both worse than Delhi’s overall reading.

The deterioration was linked in part to low wind speeds, which reduced the dispersal of pollutants. Dipankar Saha, former head of the CPCB’s air laboratory, told TOI emission loads in an area generally remain relatively stable through the year apart from events such as major fires, crop-residue burning, large construction activity and dust storms. However, he noted that air quality varies with weather, particularly wind speed and direction.

According to Saha, Sunday’s worsening conditions were linked to weak winds that prevented pollutants from dispersing effectively.

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Winter could make the pollution problem harder to control

Experts who talked to TOI expect Delhi’s air quality to come under greater pressure as colder weather approaches and agricultural fires increase. Gufran Beig, founder of SAFAR and chair professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, said the developing winter conditions and north-westerly winds could help transport pollutants towards Delhi.

The Air Quality Early Warning System has indicated that Delhi’s air could remain in the ‘moderate’ category for two days before deteriorating to ‘poor’ over the following 10 days.

The latest pollution readings have also highlighted dust and construction-related violations beyond individual building sites. Four flying-squad teams formed by the Commission for Air Quality Management inspected 25 stretches covering 35 km along Delhi’s Inner and Outer Ring Roads. They found 17 violations involving visible road dust and accumulated construction and demolition waste.

CAQM said the findings pointed to the need for stricter implementation of road-cleaning, sweeping and dust-mitigation measures by agencies responsible for those stretches.

With Delhi’s pollution season approaching, the low recovery of MCD penalties raises a practical enforcement question: imposing fines may have limited impact on polluting activities when violators face little immediate pressure to pay them. The growing number of challans alongside weak recovery suggests that the challenge is no longer simply identifying violations, but ensuring that penalties actually translate into compliance.