Gurgaon: NCR construction sites fined Rs1.5cr since January for pollution

The Haryana pollution control board will launch a new drive to check construction sites in city

Pollution-control agencies in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have collected ₹1.5 crore as penalty since January from construction sites in NCR cities that were causing pollution by not following laid-down norms, according to Bhure Lal, chairman of the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA).

Construction projects found not following pollution-control norms on site can even be issued a closure notice, an official of the state pollution control body said. (Parveen Kumar/HT Photo)

Further, on EPCA directions, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) is to launch a drive to check construction sites and increase challans on violators from Monday. The directions came in a meeting held on Thursday between the authority and Gurgaon’s civic bodies.

In the meeting, Lal asked HSPCB to collect fines from polluting construction sites under the category of ‘environment compensation’ and they should be compared with the previous year’s collection under the same category.

“The penalties we have collected in the city are primarily from construction sites. These sites have to follow environmental norms strictly or we can also issue a closure notice,” said JB Sharma, regional officer, HSPCB.

With large-scale construction underway, the city’s air quality has been plummeting. Dust arising from construction sites increases the PM2.5 level in air. PM 2.5 is suspended particulate matter 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter and is a major component of air pollution.

According to the state’s pollution control board, developing sectors such as sectors 58 to 115 are affected because of construction work along roads and construction sites there are under scanner. Both private building projects and infrastructure projects are causing pollution, the board said.

KK Khandelwal, additional chief secretary (environment), Haryana, had on Thursday also directed the regional officer of HSPCB to shut down major construction sites under Section 31 A of Air Act, 1981, if proper arrangements are not made for disposal of construction and demolition (C&D) waste.

“We will also issue notices to all sites responsible for dumping C&D waste on roadsides,” said Shakti Singh, environmental engineer, HSPCB.