Over 300 sites penalised for violating dust pollution norms

New Delhi: Over 300 construction sites were penalised for violating dust pollution norms in the city although the drive against open burning of waste did not gather as much steam.

Analysis of data shared by the Delhi government brought out the trend. Around Rs 2 crore has been recovered by the government departments and civic bodies empowered to act against dust violators since November 2015.

Agencies, including the Delhi government's Revenue Department, PWD, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and all the civic bodies hold the power to fine construction norms' violators and those who burn waste in the open.

The data shows that revenue department, EDMC, SDMC, North MCD, NDMC challened around 342 sites in the months of September, October and November, while only 90 waste burning violators were penalised during the same period.

The National Green Tribunal had directed all land owning agencies in Delhi to impose a fine of Rs 5,000 on persons found burning waste like leaves in the open and Rs 5 lakh on the owners/builders who are found violating dust control measures.

Revenue Department has issued only 136 challans against people found burning waste in open in the last one year while the same stands at 242 for EDMC and 262 for North MCD.

Environment Minister Imran Hussain appealed to all land owning agencies to intensify their inspection.

The report of the IIT-Kanpur study titled 'Source Apportionment Study of PM2.5 and PM10' had identified trucks and dust as the largest contributors behind Delhi's polluted air.