Building sites could be fined, shut under new dust rules

Source: Times of India 

Relevance: Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in India. Controlling pollution in Delhi will result in less pollution in surrounding regions as well.

Synopsis:

All new large construction sites in Delhi may soon have to install at least three real-time air quality monitoring stations and adhere to strict dust management norms. 

Background:

• Construction and road dust contribute to somewhere between 15% and 40% of PM 2.5 and PM10 emissions in Delhi.
• In order to curb this problem, a Dust Management Committee has submitted a dust management plan to the Delhi government.
  • The committee comprises experts from IIT Delhi, The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri), and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). 
  • It gave recommendations by drawing inspiration from dust management models of London and Paris.
• Based on its recommendations, new dust management rules are about to get approved by the government.

About the New Rules:

• It will apply to all construction sites with an area of more than 20,000 square meters.
• The sites are required to obtain an environmental clearance and submit a fixed bank guarantee before starting their work.
  • While applying for the environmental clearance, each construction site will have to specify the exact location of the three air quality monitoring stations installed at the site.
  • A large display board showing the readings will also have to be put up at the site, with the data being relayed to a DPCC control room. 
• It allows the issuance of warnings if the PM10 and PM2.5 levels at the site are more than 25% of the air quality readings at the nearest monitoring station.
• A “cure period” of three hours will be given to take corrective measures after the first warning.
  • After 3 hours, a notice will be sent to the project proponent and a fine of either Rs 1 lakh, or 10% of the bank guarantee, will be invoked. 
  • If after 12 hours of the first warning, the situation does not improve, then a fine of Rs 3 lakh or 20% of the bank guarantee, whichever is higher, will be imposed. 
  • If after 24 hours of the first warning, no corrective action is taken, the site will be shut down.