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New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday said the government has deployed real-time monitoring through the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) portal to control dust, and issued penalty notices worth Rs 2.36 crore to defaulters.
He said more than 1,262 construction projects of more than 500 square meter area have been inspected for dust pollution since October 15, and with a strong technology deployment, 747 sites have been registered on the DPCC portal with real-time video fencing and air quality monitoring.
He said the government is ensuring that every construction and demolition (C&D) site above 500 square meters is registered, monitored and meets strict dust mitigation standards.
He said that DPCC Dust Pollution Control Self-Assessment Portal has also been integrated with the building approval process of municipal corporations.
Sirsa said 35 teams of DPCC started physical inspections targeting all major construction sites across Delhi on October 15.
In the initial phase, 500 construction and demolition projects were assessed, unregistered projects were identified, and concrete action was taken – over 200 show cause notices were issued, 48 projects were ordered to be closed, and 35 projects were penalized under environmental compensation provisions for dust violations, with a fine of over Rs. 2.36 crore, it said in a statement.
“We are continuously working to bring some systemic changes in the system to effectively control the harmful emissions polluting Delhi’s air throughout the year, especially during the winter season,” Sirsa said.
“Each project is being remotely monitored around the clock for compliance. Fines, closures and physical enforcement means dust pollution is tackled at the source, be it from construction sites, traffic or industrial activities. The SOP is to inspect, evaluate and take action.”
The statement said that from October 21 to November 14, projects registered on the DPCC portal increased from 653 to 747 as the government’s strong compliance drive gained momentum.
Intensive inspection of these registered sites began on October 29, 461 have already been inspected, pending further action against those violating dust control norms.
The remote monitoring infrastructure – including 360-degree video fencing and live-linked PM2.5 and PM10 sensors – ensures continuous enforcement and transparency. Public display boards with DPCC portal registration ID have been made mandatory at construction sites to keep the compliance status of each project visible to citizens and stakeholders.
DPCC inspection teams are conducting active surveys across Delhi to identify unregistered projects. The statement said that out of 4,881 areas mapped across the city, 467 have already been thoroughly inspected and 33 violations have been identified for immediate action and show cause notices have been issued.
–IANS
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