New Delhi (NVI): The Ministry of Environment today said that inspection teams to abate dust and related air pollution levied nearly Rs 76 lakh fine as environment compensation against non-compliant construction and demolition entities.
According to an official statement, “The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for Delhi-NCR and adjacent areas had directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the State Pollution Control Boards of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to constitute teams and launch inspection drives in the premises related to Construction & Demolition activities in the NCR.”
The inspections were conducted by these agencies from December 12, 2020 to January 15, 2021 by constituting about 174 teams, the Ministry of Environment said in a statement.
These teams conducted inspection at more than 1,600 C&D sites of which about 119 sites were found to be non-compliant with the various Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules and dust mitigation measures stipulated by the Environment Ministry and the CPCB, it said.
In addition, an amount of approx Rs 51 lakhs was levied as environment compensation charges against the defaulting agencies besides orders for stoppage of work at 27 locations.
The compliance with respect to transportation of materials related to C&D activities was also checked by the inspecting teams.
The ministry also stated that, about 563 vehicles, not in conformance with guidelines related to transportation of C&D materials, were levied environment compensation charges of nearly Rs 25 lakhs.
Furthermore, the Commission of Air Quality has asked state pollution boards that such fortnightly drives be continued to enforce compliance of the C&D waste management rules and related guidelines to abate dust pollution from C&D sector, which contributes significantly to poor air quality in the region.
-RJV
