New Delhi: Construction and demolition agencies in Delhi are constantly flouting rules on dust mitigation mandated by the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM).
On-site inspections of the Construction and Demolition (C&D) projects undertaken by the flying squads indicated the need to significantly improve levels of compliance and effectiveness of the implementation of CAQM’s various statutory directions, rules, orders and guidelines by the project proponents at their project sites regarding dust mitigation.
Instances have also come to the notice of the Commission, where proponents, “in total disregard” of the directions of closure and Advisory dated April 6, 2023, issued by CAQM, were found to be continuing with the C&D activities without due corrective or preventive measures to abate dust pollution and without resumption orders being issued by the Commission.
CAQM today stated that serious concerns about dust levels attributed to C&D activities needed to be addressed at all levels by various stakeholders concerned in NCR. “In this context, building layout plans/ permissions/sanctions issued by various regulatory bodies thus need to strictly ensure inclusion of the provisions of directions, policy guidelines and other measures to mitigate dust pollution during the execution of the work,” it said. The level of compliance of such measures also needs to be monitored from time to time by the officers concerned of regulatory, inspecting and certifying agencies, it added.
The CAQM today mandated all agencies in NCR responsible for the issuance of Completion Certificate (CC)/ Occupancy Certificate (OC) not to issue them to any project against which the “Closure” direction issued by CAQM was pending. The move has been taken for better and more effective compliance with the statutory directions, rules and regulations issued for the abatement of dust pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Further, the CAQM has advised concerned agencies to rely upon the list of entities, whose resumptions orders were yet to be issued (list updated weekly) at the Commission’s official website, before considering applications for grant of CC/OC.
Dust from Construction and Demolition (C&D) activities is a major and consistent source of air pollution in NCR and contributes adversely to the PM10 and PM2.5 levels, consistently throughout the year, particularly during the summer season and thus needs to be addressed at all levels by various stakeholders concerned in NCR.
Many of the infrastructure development activities including C&D projects are outsourced to various agencies. It thus becomes imperative that implementation and compliance of all the statutory directions, rules and guidelines is carried out effectively even through such executing agencies.
Accordingly, CAQM has advised municipal bodies and urban local bodies (ULBs) and all related departments of NCR State Government, as well as the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi to ensure that all building plan sanctions, tender notices, contract documents, and agreements in these sectors incorporate the provisions of rules, directions, guidelines and safeguards, for compliance towards effective mitigation of dust during execution of such projects.
“These agencies may also consider stipulating quality benchmarks in respect of this attribute in the contracts, duly calling for appropriate penal provisions and measures for environmental compensation in case of non-compliance. Regular inspection during execution of projects should monitor and ensure compliance with dust control rules, guidelines and directions issued by the Commission in this regard,” it added.
– global bihari bureau
