Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said strict action is being taken against those flouting dust control norms, be it the Delhi government's Public Works Department (PWD) or municipal corporations.
The minister said the issue of pollution is related to people's health and all agencies are equally responsible for its prevention and control. "It doesn't matter which agency it is ... Be it PWD or MCDs, all have to take measures to prevent dust pollution. Strict action is being taken against those not following the government's directions," he told reporters during the inspection of the Chandni Chowk Redevelopment Project site.
As part of the anti-dust pollution campaign of the Delhi government, Rai on Wednesday made a surprise inspection of the ongoing construction work at the Chandni Chowk. "The environment minister found that all the guidelines issued by the Delhi government were followed at the construction site," he said.
Rai said that four water tankers were found on the spot to prevent dust pollution. Officials said people in the vicinity dump debris on the road at night. Thereafter, Rai directed the PWD to clean the debris in collaboration with the MCD. He said that the issue of pollution is not about any agency, but it is about the life of the people.
Rai said, "I have directed the authorities to maintain every precautionary measure as it is a very populated area. When I visited the spot then I found that water sprinkling was happening but we will separately monitor the matter too. We will also monitor whether e-rickshaws are doing dust-pollution in the area."
On the tree transplantation policy, he said, "The policy has a provision that the agency which is carrying on the transplantation should maintain the trees and if they cannot maintain at least 80 per cent of the trees then the payment of the agency will be stopped."
The Minister also said, "If anywhere, anyone is causing pollution, whether it is PWD, MCD, or private entity the work should be stopped. All agencies need to work together to prevent pollution. So it does not matter which agency it is." The minister had on Tuesday issued directions to impose a fine of Rs 20 lakh on North Delhi Municipal Corporation for violating dust control guidelines at Bhalswa landfill site. Rai had earlier asked common people, private and government agencies that have undertaken construction works to take adequate measures to prevent dust pollution, "else strict action will be taken against them".
He had asked them to follow five steps -- installing windshields and barriers at the periphery of construction and demolition sites, covering debris with tarpaulin, using green net to prevent dust from blowing out, water sprinkling and covering trucks carrying construction material.
The minister said all construction and demolition sites, irrespective of their sizes, will have to compulsorily take the five steps. He also said the government has started "micro monitoring" of all the 13 pollution hotspots in the city and will soon deploy environment marshals to check violations of environmental norms.
The environment department has set up 14 inspection teams to check violations of pollution norms. This AAP government's anti-dust campaign will continue till Thursday.