·Surprise inspection by a joint team headed by Environment Minister reveals major violations
· Minister directs DPCC to take the strictest action against the violators
· No construction site should be left uncovered in Delhi
New Delhi26,2018 ( By SK.Vyas): A surprise inspection by a team headed by the Environment Minister, Shri Imran Hussain on Friday found a number of serious violations of dust control measures at the Pragati Maidan redevelopment site, following which the minister directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to take strict action against the violating agency.
The minister alongwith a joint team inspected the ongoing construction sites of ITPO at Pragati Maidan, where a new International Exhibition cum Conventional Centre, Executive Accommodation blocks and a tunnel is being constructed.
Sub Divisional Magistrate South Delhi, SDMC, PWD, DPCC and Delhi Police department officials accompanied the minister during the site inspection.
The team has observed several discrepancies including:
· Blatant violation of Environmental Clearance (EC) conditions has been observed by the team. Both contractors were observing lackadaisical attitude towards the environmental safeguard conditions prescribed for construction stage in EC.
· There is visible clear cut negligence on part of contractors with regard to Construction and Demolition Waste Rules 2016 and orders of Supreme Court and NGT on Air Pollution /GRAP.
· No measures have been taken by the contractors to control emission of re-suspension dust from excavation, drilling and other construction related activities. No arrangement for sprinkling of water has been made at the sites.
· The Stacks of building materials viz; sand, morum and excavated boulders were kept uncovered and in dry condition causing dust pollution in the area.
· All construction sites were without mat fencing to trap the dust. All mat covering (Green sheets) arrangements were insufficient to mitigate the quantum of dust being generated from the construction sites.
· Approach and internal roads were full of dust due to non sprinkling of water,
· No measures have been taken to alleviate the dust pollution from construction happening in multi storied residential project. The mesh was found to be torn and unused.
· The trucks carrying the construction material were uncovered thus emanating dust in the environment.
Shri Hussain directed both the contractors and PWD officials to take measures for prevention and control of road dust/re-suspension of dust and other fugitive emissions. He also them directed to take measures for prevention and control of air pollution from construction and demolition activities.
He directed that Development Agencies and contractors that they should ensure that all construction sites should adhere to guidelines of environmental clearance to avoid any dust emission from construction activities. No Construction Material should be kept open and regular sprinkling of water at all construction sites must be done. Necessary arrangement must be made for covering up the construction site with green sheets/cover. Strict Action against both the contractors for floating the environmental norms should immediately be taken by DPCC for revocation of EC and heavy penalty as per Environmental Protection Act 1986.
The Minister has decided to regularly inspect all areas in Delhi to oversee the implementation of Graded Response Action Plan(GRAP) and visit the sites where there is likelihood of Air Pollution. In this backdrop an-inter departmental joint inspection teams has been constituted by the Delhi government.