JOIN USNotices to projects on MoEF rules
The Delhi government on Saturday said it has served notice to 172 ongoing construction projects in the city.
The crackdown on construction projects comes days after the National Green Tribunal about a week ago had ordered a complete halt on all the construction activity in the national capital region that does not adhere to the latest environment norms.
“These concerned parties have been directed to submit reports on the current status of construction and steps being taken by them for compliance of the Ministry of Environment and Forests guidelines, 2010, on prevention of dust and garbage accumulation on their sites, while carrying out the construction,” the government in a press statement said.
They construction companies have also been asked to submit adherence reports on directions mentioned in the orders of the tribunal.
It has been found that though these projects had obtained prior environmental clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests or the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Delhi, but subsequently the mandatory ‘Consent to Operate’ clearance was not sought from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
“The existing situation of these projects gives rise to reasonable apprehension that they are either still in construction stage or have completed construction or became operational without the mandatory Consent to Operate guidelines,” the government said.
Meanwhile, Delhi Environment Minister Asim Ahmed Khan has directed the officials of the department to follow up the steps being taken to penalise those responsible for burning of garbage, leaves and plastic in the open, another main source of air pollution apart from the vehicular traffic in the capital.
The minister has sought a presentation report on steps that could be taken to reduce air pollution caused by open construction activity in the city.
He will take up the matter with the Public Works Department and other concerned departments to draw up a joint comprehensive plan comprising awareness programmes and punitive measures to check the growing sources of air pollution in the city.