NEW DELHI: In a bid to curb rising dust pollution during the winter months, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Saturday unveiled a comprehensive 14-point construction guideline as part of the city's 'Winter Action Plan'.
Rai said the rules aim to tackle dust pollution from the construction sites, a major contributor to the city's declining air quality.
"We have made significant strides in reducing air pollution in Delhi, which has decreased by 34.6 per cent over the past nine years," Rai said during a press conference here.
However, during winter, pollution levels spike, largely due to dust from construction activities.
Our Winter Action Plan, announced on September 25, focuses on 21 areas of concern, with the anti-dust campaign being a key component, he added.
Highlighting 14 points, Rai said that construction sites over 500 square meters must now register on the Construction and Demolition (C&D) portal, where compliance with environmental norms will be strictly monitored.
Those failing to follow the guidelines face hefty fines, while exemplary projects will be recognized with the 'Harit Ratna' Award for their efforts in curbing pollution, he added.
The rules also mandate that all construction sites must be covered with tin sheets to prevent dust from spreading into the surroundings.
"People involved in any kind of construction work whether private, government or company-driven must ensure compliance with these rules," Rai emphasized.
The minister stated that all construction areas must be enclosed with tin sheets, vehicles transporting construction materials must have clean tires and materials like sand and gravel must be covered to prevent dust from spilling onto the roads.
To control dust, regular water sprinkling at the construction sites is compulsory, he added.
Rai further said that workers must be provided with dust masks and health kits at all times.
The Delhi government has also deployed 523 teams from 13 departments to monitor compliance.
"As part of the campaign, 523 teams from 13 different departments will be deployed across the city to monitor construction sites and ensure compliance with 14 dust-control guidelines," Rai said.
These teams will be operational round the clock, with regular reports submitted to the Environment Department and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).
The anti-dust campaign will run from October 7 to November 7 as part of the Winter Action Plan to tackle pollution in the capital, he added.
The guidelines include mandatory installation of anti-smog guns at larger construction sites, covering materials to prevent dust, and regular water sprinkling.
The violations will result in fines ranging from Rs 7,500 per day to Rs 2 lakh, depending on the scale of the project.
In addition to site inspections, the government will deploy 85 Mechanical Road Sweeping (MRS) machines and 500 water sprinklers throughout the city.
In November, 200 mobile anti-smog guns will be introduced, operating in three shifts to address pollution on Delhi's roads.
The minister also laid emphasis on the harmful health effects of dust pollution, particularly during the winter months, and urged all construction agencies to cooperate.
"We need to ensure compliance to protect public health and improve air quality," Rai said.
Fine will be imposed for violation of rules: For not registering on the C&D portal, a fine of Rs 1 lakh will be imposed on construction projects with an area of less than 20,000 square meters and Rs 2 lakh on construction projects with an area of more than 20,000 square meters.
A fine of Rs 7,500 per day will be imposed for not installing anti-smog guns.
For not taking dust mitigation measures at the construction sites, a fine of Rs 7,500 per day will be imposed on construction projects with an area of less than 500 square meters and Rs 15,000 per day on construction projects with an area of more than that.
It is necessary to cover the vehicles carrying construction materials.
If this is violated, a fine of Rs 7,500 will be imposed.
