(a) whether any step has been taken by the Commission for Air Quality Management to reduce the dirt and air pollution emanating from construction and demolition activities;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any action has been taken by the Commission against the agencies which do not comply with the rules, guidelines and dust suppression measures; and
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the name of the States where action has been taken on such agencies?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)
(a) to (d) With a view to abate dirt and related air pollution from the construction and demolition activities, the Commission directed the Central Pollution Control Board, the State Pollution Control Boards of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to constitute special teams and launch inspection drives in the premises, processes and transportation of materials related to C&D activities in the NCR.
Intensive drives were conducted by these agencies from 24.12.2020 to 31.12.2020 by constituting about 227 teams in the states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. These teams carried out surprise checks and inspections at more than 3000 C&D sites of which about 386 sites were found to be non-compliant with various C&D Waste Management Rules / Guidelines and dust mitigation measures stipulated by CPCB. Further, an amount of approx. Rs.1.59 crore was levied as environment compensation against the non-compliant entities, besides orders for stoppage of work at 12 locations.
Compliance with respect to transportation of materials related to C&D activities was also seen by the inspecting teams. About 325 vehicles, not in conformance with guidelines related to transportation of C&D materials, were levied environment compensation charges of approximately Rs. 1.17 crore.
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