DPCC to shut sites violating norms

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee on Thursday conceded in the Delhi high court that the '50,000 fine for violating dust control norms was not a deterrent for big construction firms and added it would start taking steps to shut down projects violating norms.

On the dust generated by the huge construction sites, the panel said it had issued notices to around 172 projects, of which around 40 were found violating dust control norms and fined '50,000 as per directions of the National Green Tribunal. It said over '22 lakh was collected for such violations.

The panel also submitted its action plan for tackling the issue of poor air quality, in which it has detailed the steps being taken to address the various causes of air pollution. Advocate Sanjeev Ralli, appearing for the committee, made the submission before a bench of Justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva during the hearing of a PIL initiated by the court on the issue of rising air pollution in the city. The bench, however, was not satisfied and said under the Air Act, the committee had the power to shut down the sites that continue to violate norms. It also said the '50,000 fine was not a deterrent as after paying the amount a person would keep on violating.