Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) today conceded in Delhi High Court that the Rs 50,000 fine for violating dust control norms was "not a deterrent" for big construction firms and said it would start taking steps to shut down projects violating norms from now.
DPCC also submitted its action plan for tackling the issue of poor air quality, in which it has detailed the steps being taken to address the various causes of air pollution.
Advocate Sanjeev Ralli, appearing for DPCC, made the submission before a bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva during the hearing of a PIL initiated by the court on the issue of rising air pollution in the city.
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On the dust generated by huge construction sites, DPCC said it had issued notices to around 172 projects of which around 40 were found violating dust control norms and fined Rs 50,000 as per directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). It said over Rs 22 lakh was collected for such violations.
The bench, however, was not satisfied and said under the Air Act, the committee had the power to initiate prosecution and shut down the sites that continue to violate norms.
It also said the Rs 50,000 fine was not a deterrent as after paying the amount a person would keep on violating. DPCC agreed with this view and said it will take steps to shut down projects which repeatedly violate the norms.
DPCC said it would be strict and initiate prosecution against violators.
On burning of leaves, garbage, plastic and rubble, DPCC said a fine of Rs 5000 is levied upon those found violating and added that it was also keeping a close watch on MCD dump sites to prevent burning of waste.
Referring to thermal power plants in Delhi, DPCC said a plant run by the city government at Rajghat has been shut down till March 15 and the committee has also ordered closure of four of the five units of the NTPC plant at Badarpur.
DPCC said the units were ordered to be shut down as their
emissions were not within prescribed norms, prompting the court to surmise that these plants were "not being run efficiently".
It asked DPCC to "ensure the thermal power plants have the werewithal to operate within the standards and if not, then don't let them (units) run".
In the action plan submitted by DPCC, it has also stated that subsidies of more than 30 per cent were being given by the Centre and state to those who purchased battery operated vehicles. The court said this concept should apply to hybrid vehicles too.
It also told the court that the forest department had taken up over 800 hectares of flood plain area in east Delhi and converted into a forest area and added that DDA has been approached to hand over any other such lands for conversion to forest areas.
The court, thereafter, directed the Delhi Development Authority's lawyer to take instructions on whether any land owned by it is in the flood plain and whether it can be handed over to forest department to be maintained as a forest area to prevent unauthorised constructions and improve air quality.
As per the DPCC action plan, the other measures that the Delhi government intends to take to reduce air pollution includes vacuum cleaning of roads from April 1 onwards as well as planting of shrubs and bushes on either side of the roads.
Meanwhile, an intervention application was moved by a woman seeking action against open kitchens and non-conforming commercial kitchens, like dhabas, roadside eateries and sweet shops, saying such establishments gave out "fugitive emissions" which were very harmful not only for people outside but for those inside their homes and offices.
The court allowed the woman to intervene and listed the matter with the main PIL on January 28.
