Delhi MCD SP Zone issues 105 challans, collects Rs 1.16 lakh fines

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) City SP Zone issued 105 challans in a single day, collecting fines totalling Rs 1,16,600. The action spread across sanitation, health, veterinary, building and general administration wings, underscoring the civic body’s emphasis on waste management and pollution control as winter sets in.

According to official data, the sanitation wing, DEMS, spearheaded the crackdown. It issued 93 challans, including 35 for littering, 14 against street vendors for violating solid waste norms, and two under NGT guidelines, for which fines are yet to be realised. A fine of Rs 47,200 from Special Judicial Magistrates also featured in the day’s tally. Officials said the DEMS team found widespread instances of waste dumping, non-segregation and vending kiosks ignoring basic cleanliness rules, particularly in busy public spaces around Kashmere Gate and Old Delhi.

The Health Department followed up with seven challans, including five court challans and two G (8) raid challans, totaling Rs 5,800. These typically relate to unhygienic conditions in food establishments and violations of health trade licences. Officers described the checks as part of a routine pre-winter sweep, when food stalls and small eateries traditionally face heightened scrutiny. The Veterinary Department contributed two challans, imposing Rs 5,100 in fines, mostly linked to violations concerning animal handling and illegal meat operations. Though fewer in number, officials said these checks are critical in dense commercial pockets where stray cattle and unregulated meat shops can quickly disrupt civic order. Some of the steepest penalties of the day came from the Building Department’s second division, which issued two challans under NGT and air pollution norms, amounting to Rs 40,000.

These were imposed on construction sites found operating without dust-control measures. With Delhi’s air quality hovering in the ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ zone, the building wing has been under pressure to enforce environmental compliance, especially against construction-related emissions. The general branch, meanwhile, issued one challan tied to the release of vehicles and market or kiosk-related fees, collecting Rs 12,300. Civic officials said such cases often involve unauthorised encroachments, delayed payments or goods

seized during market regulation drives. Interestingly, both Maintenance-I and Maintenance-II divisions reported zero challenges for the day. Senior officials said these departments remain focused on repair and upkeep work, though enforcement drives may be stepped up in the coming weeks as festival congestion and winter pollution heighten the need for stricter oversight.

A senior MCD official from the zone said that the day’s numbers reflect a conscious policy shift. “We are intensifying field presence across departments. The aim is to ensure compliance with solid waste norms, health regulations and air pollution guidelines. Residents must see visible improvement in public spaces, and consistent enforcement is the only way forward,” the official said.

The City SP Zone, home to some of Delhi’s oldest neighbourhoods, commercial hubs and busy arterial roads, has long struggled with waste dumping, encroachments and dust from construction sites. Residents said Thursday’s action was overdue.

Many expressed hope that daily enforcement would finally bring relief from persistent sanitation and pollution issues.

While the MCD has often been criticised for sporadic drives, the scale of Thursday’s action indicates a renewed push. Officials said the zone will now compile weekly enforcement reports to identify chronic violators and track areas that require repeated intervention.