Air pollution: Surprise drives at construction sites

The Delhi government has empowered its SDMs and tehsildars to carry out surprise inspections of construction sites and recommend penalty against violators of laid down norms to tackle air pollution.

The move, along with authorising them to penalise those who burn waste in the open, comes as winter knocks on the capital’s door, a time which sees particulate matters in air rising to dangerous levels.

“In pursuance to NGT orders, SDMs along with tehsildars are hereby authorised to carry out surprise inspection/special drive for dust control measures in the construction activities of plots with build up area between 400 sqm to 20,000 sqm,” the order issued by Director (Environment) Anil Kumar said. 

They have also been asked to recommend any violation to respective area municipality to levy compensation on violators. In case of burning of waste, the officials can directly penalise, the order dated October 20 says.

Cracking the whip on the real estate sector, the National Green Tribunal had in April passed a slew of directions to check air pollution caused by dust emanating from construction sites in the NCR.