Delhi civic bodies intensify drive against pollution, impose ₹30 lakh in fine

Owing to rising air pollution, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) used more than 100 vehicles and six tankers sprinkling water on streets falling under its jurisdiction, they said.Twelve mechanical sweeping machines were deployed for sweeping on wider roads after sprinkling water to control dust.

North and South Delhi municipal corporations Thursday intensified drives to check pollution level in the city and imposed a total of ₹30 lakh in penalty for violations, officials said.

Delhi traffic police personnel wears an anti-pollution mask to protect himself from the pollution near Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, India, on Thursday, November 1, 2018. (Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO)

The zonal teams of South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) intensified campaign to check pollution level in the city and imposed penalties, they said.

“The building department of various zones also inspected areas for construction activities causing dust pollution, and garbage or leaves burning. During this exercise, zonal authorities issued a total of 435 challans worth about ₹22 lakh for violations,” a senior SDMC official said.

He said the SDMC will further intensify its drive against violators.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) Thursday also penalised such violators, besides constituting “43 teams for night patrolling in all of its six zones” for checking activities that add to air pollution, officials said.

“The building departments of various zones also inspected areas for construction activities causing dust pollution. Violations such as garbage or leaves burning and construction activities not adhering to norms, were found at 39 sites and challans worth ₹8 lakh were issued,” a senior NDMC official said.

Fourteen challans were issued in Civil Lines Zone, the maximum among all zones, and thirteen in City-Sadar Paharganj Zone, the officials said.

On the monitoring teams, the official said, teams would check any burning of garbage or leaves, or other activities, contributing to air pollution, and penalise violators.

Besides more than 100 vehicles and six tankers were used for sprinkling water on streets falling under its jurisdiction, they said.

Twelve mechanical sweeping machines were deployed for sweeping on wider roads after sprinkling water to control dust.

East Delhi mayor Bipin Bihari Singh Thursday flagged off six mechanical sweeping machines for curbing pollution and distributed face masks to sanitation workers at a programme organised at the EDMC headquarters at Patparganj, officials said.