Intensifying its drive to control dust pollution in the national Capital, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has  imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on Don Bosco School for violating NGT norms. The civic body also stopped construction of a tunnel by L&T under Pragati Maidan project during the drive.

SDMC Commissioner Puneet Kumar Goel instructed the zonal Deputy Commissioners to identify 500 sites per zone for bursting crackers during Diwali night between 8 to 10 pm as per instructions of the Supreme Court.

A senior SDMC official said that the school situated at Sukhdev Vihar fined under section 337 of DMC act read with section 15 of NGT act.  The violation observed over a plot of 20000 square meters of the school where construction activities were going on with out and the building covering with tarpaulin as suggested. Further, the construction material stored at site was not fully covered and the workers were not provided with masks, he said.

The action against project running at Pragati Maidan was stopped under section 344(2) of DMC act after carrying out an inspection at site and violation noticed. It was also observed that no action was taken to prevent dust to be mixed in air despite issuing warning, he said.

Goel also chaired a meeting of all concerned departments heads and instructed the zonal concerned departments to immediately stop ongoing construction work. "The officials were also directed to issue challan to trucks carrying uncovered Construction and demolition waste. Repeated violators will face criminal prosecution in view of affecting health of the fragile senior citizens and kids as they are more prone to pollution borne diseases," he said.

The Commissioner has directed the Deputy Commissioners to focus on containing dust and air pollution particularly in Punjabi Bagh and Dwarka localities where the dust pollution noticed above dangerous mark, the official said.

The SDMC has issued 2701 challans for violation of NGT norms and Solid Waste Management by laws apart from general challans during month of October 2018.  This resulted in collection of Rs 45,11,800. In view of increasing air pollution in the city, all three municipal corporations stepped up water sprinkling on roads to settle down dust particles. A total of 168 tankers were deployed by the all three corporations for sprinkling. 

North Delhi Municipal Corporation has also issued 154 challan this month for related violations and imposed penalty of Rs 28,45000.