nDelhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday issued directions for imposing a fine of Rs 20 lakh on North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) for violating dust control guidelines at Bhalswa landfill.
The development came after the Minister conducted an inspection visit at Bhalswa dumping sites in an effort to overview the following of norms under the anti-dust campaign in Delhi.
Rai found a large scale violation of the guidelines issued by the Delhi government. Expressing anguish on the situation, he said that all the departments should remain vigilant in dealing with the growing pollution crisis within Delhi but it is the negligence of the MCD that is responsible for the flouting of norms on the sites.
The minister said, "We have directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to take stringent action and NMC was directed to increase water tankers at sites. The MCD will also be fined for violation of government guidelines."
The Delhi government has issued detailed guidelines on construction work and all authorities will have to adhere to them." The North MCD has been levied a fine of Rs. 20 lakhs for negligence of duty.
The Environment Minister further said, "We have directed the departments to increase the count of tankers in the area and strict action will be taken along with imposing a penalty for the violation of rules."
"The spraying of water is not regularly done in the area, which is why strict action will be taken against the authorities responsible for ensuring this. We have directed proper sprinkling of water in all the four directions. Directions have been issued to various departments to address issues like these all over Delhi. Instructions have been issued within the entire Delhi that all the concerned departments should take action immediately wherever there are such complaints," he said.
The authorities responsible for the construction projects in Delhi will have to strictly adhere to the guidelines to ensure minimum pollution levels, or strict actions will be taken against them, he added.
Speaking to the media, Rai said that the government has launched an anti-dust campaign to check pollution caused by dust in the air in Delhi.
Under the campaign, the government has issued necessary guidelines and stringent action will be taken in case of violations, he said.