Parliamentary panel to examine issue of implementation of dust free technology

NEW DELHI: As dust particles continue to contribute to rising pollution levels, a Parliamentary committee has decided to examine the issue of implementation of 'dust-free' technology in the construction sector.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Urban Development has decided to include 'Implementation of Dust Free Construction with Innovative Technologies in India' as an additional subject for examination, a Lok Sabha bulletin has said.

The decision taken last week to study the subject of dust pollution caused by construction activities comes against the backdrop of a recent report by IIT-Kanpur titled 'Source Apportionment Study of PM2.5 and PM10' which identified trucks and road dust as the largest contributors behind Delhi's polluted air. The study has recommended a switch to Euro VI fuel norms.

The Supreme Court had last month favoured imposing a fine of Rs 50,000 on a daily basis on construction sites for generating high levels of dust in Delhi and the national capital region.

"You (governments) should impose recurring cost of Rs 50,000 on daily basis...," a bench headed by Chief Justice of India T S Thakur had said while hearing a PIL seeking directives to curb rising pollution in Delhi and the NCR.

In December last, the Delhi government had served notices to eight major construction projects, including one of the Airport Authority of India, for flouting dust pollution norms.

The proponents of the projects have been asked to deposit environment compensation penalty of Rs 50,000 each and take rectification measures. Earlier, 38 other projects were slapped with similar penalties.

The projects included upcoming shopping malls, extension of NIFT campus in Hauz Khas and construction of district courts.