SC suggests penalty of Rs 50,000 a day on builders for pollution

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has asked pollution control boards to consider surprise checks on building sites to check dust related pollution levels during construction work and suggested a fine of Rs 50,000 a day if the builders fail to keep pollution levels at the minimum.

The court on January 21 suggested that building activity be stopped if builders failed to undertake minimum dust checking measures such as spraying water.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India TS Thakur and R Bhanumathi also suggested that the government phase out all diesel vehicles which are more than five years old.

The court, however, did not agree to further advancement of the date of implementation of the more stringent BS VI norms for all automakers from April 2020 in the face of a government protest against such a move.

The court issued notices to NTPC, asking the state-run power producer why its Badarpur thermal power plant may not be shut down as demanded by the Delhi government. The court listed for hearing on February 18 the application by car makers for relaxing the ban on registration of diesel vehicles below 2,000 cc.