Delhi govt fines 67 construction projects

NEW DELHI: Delhi government has fined 67 construction projects, including 14 metro sites, for violating dust protection norms across the city since December and has added over Rs 1 crore to its coffers, its Environment Impact Assessment Cell said today.

The crackdown, largely on upcoming projects with built-up area of more than 20,000 sq metres, was intensified following an order of the National Green Tribunal and findings of an IIT-Kanpur panel which identified dust as a major source of air pollution in the national capital.

"139 notices imposing environmental compensation in view pollution have been issued to 67 construction projects (including 14 DMRC sites), between December 2015 till date. Total compensation deposited amounts to Rs 1,18,50,000," an official statement said.

Among the other bodies, Department of Revenue issued 467 challans, EDMC 533, SDMC 745, North MCD 13, and PWD 67. Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain, who reviewed the progress of the drive, directed all the departments to prepare lists of defaulters yet to deposit the compensation and produce it before the NGT.

The civic bodies were asked to submit action plan for roadside dust control by the government. The DPCC also pointed out mismanagement of the three landfill sites at Bhalaswa, Ghazipur and Okhla.

"The minister directed all municipal corporations to take necessary corrective measures as per deficiency found in the report and directed that fire brigades should be stationed at the landfill sites to control fire hazards and ragpickers should not be allowed to enter the landfill sites," the statement added.

The penalty on the project sites is calculated at the rate of Rs 50,000 per day from the date of issuance of notice to the day of submission of the compliance report.