268 construction sites under scanner after pollution sensors were not installed | Latest News Delhi

The state environment ministry has warned operators of 268 construction and demolition (C&D) sites in the capital for failure to install real-time air quality monitors, warning them to shut down and seek environmental compensation if authorities fail to comply. end of month.

According to data on maximum number of faulty sites, 63 in Rajouri Garden, 41 in Greater Kailash, 38 in Kalkaji, 37 in Punjabi Bagh and 31 in Vasant Vihar, among other districts. in. These include both government and private sites.

“The idea behind the registration was that the government could track real-time data through these monitors. Ground inspections can also be done. Since these sites have not been fitted with sensors since last year, a show-cause notice has been issued for non-compliance. If adequate action is not taken, they will be shut down,” said an environment ministry official.

As per Phase 2 of the Phased Response Action Plan (Graph) currently in force in Delhi since October 22, all C&D facilities with an area of ​​500 square meters and above will share real-time pollution data with the government. But ministry officials estimate that about 40% of the 620 facilities registered with the government have failed to install sensors.

Private construction could be halted under Phase 3 of the Grap, and public projects could be halted under Phase 4.

Apart from larger sites, 523 teams were deployed to monitor and assess dust norms at all sites, including those smaller than 500 square metres, across the Capital in September.

The main reason behind high PM10 (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns or less) levels in winter is dust from Construction and Development sites and roads, officials said. A 2016 source allocation study by IIT Kanpur found that dust from roads, excavations and agriculture constitute the highest sources of suspended particulate matter in Delhi, accounting for 38% of PM2.5 and 56% of PM10 in Delhi showed.

“This is why we have made it mandatory to have anti-smog weapons on large construction sites since 2022. Alerts are issued if the data is above the permissible standards and appropriate corrective action is not taken,” the official said.

Sunil Dahiya, founder and principal analyst at environmental think tank Envirocatalysts, said it was important to tackle each source of pollution and registration with the government would mean nothing if there was no transparency. “Measures need to be taken against non-compliant sites. “At the same time, this data should be made public about what the pollution levels are in large areas,” he said.