NEW DELHI: With the air pollution season just a couple of months away, South Delhi Municipal Corporation has ordered its executive and assistant engineers to initiate action against the big construction sites, which have not yet deployed anti-smog guns.
A senior corporation official said that a meeting in this regard was held by the additional commissioner and area engineers have been asked to prepare a report on the deployment of anti-smog guns at large construction sites. “According to an order issued by SDMC on February 20, 2020, such anti-smog guns are mandatory at sites, which are larger than 20,000 sqm and less than 1.50 lakh sqm. The lockdown period caused some delay, but now action will be initiated against owners of construction sites if they do not comply,” added the official.
The engineers have been asked to prepare a list of all the project sites in their respective jurisdictions and the number of smog guns deployed at each of them. “A report is to be submitted in the court. Engineers are directed to ensure guidelines are met failing which action will be initiated,” the order stated.
An SDMC engineer said that reports of only five construction sites with smog guns in south Delhi areas have been received so far. “Two of these construction sites are located in Dwarka under Najafgarh zone, while three others in Central zone. Instructions have been given from the headquarters, but no notices have been issued so far,” the official added.
Last year, the apex court had directed the use of anti-smog guns in Delhi and other NCR areas for large construction sites, road construction stretches, mining activities, large parking sites on unpaved areas and during large public gatherings and demolition activities. “It be made compulsory to make use of anti-smog guns in Delhi-NCR in projects that require environmental clearance from the State/Central level and which have a built-up area of more than 20,000 sqm, including excavation, material handling and other dust-generating activities. Let an appropriate policy decision be also taken with respect to cost of installation, duly considering the principle ‘polluters pay’ evolved by this court,” the bench had said.
While some experts have raised doubts over the efficacy of anti-smog guns, the top court had junked the intervention application by a Delhi-based doctor, who doubted the efficiency of these towers in the backdrop of limited research data.
A senior corporation official said that a meeting in this regard was held by the additional commissioner and area engineers have been asked to prepare a report on the deployment of anti-smog guns at large construction sites. “According to an order issued by SDMC on February 20, 2020, such anti-smog guns are mandatory at sites, which are larger than 20,000 sqm and less than 1.50 lakh sqm. The lockdown period caused some delay, but now action will be initiated against owners of construction sites if they do not comply,” added the official.
The engineers have been asked to prepare a list of all the project sites in their respective jurisdictions and the number of smog guns deployed at each of them. “A report is to be submitted in the court. Engineers are directed to ensure guidelines are met failing which action will be initiated,” the order stated.
An SDMC engineer said that reports of only five construction sites with smog guns in south Delhi areas have been received so far. “Two of these construction sites are located in Dwarka under Najafgarh zone, while three others in Central zone. Instructions have been given from the headquarters, but no notices have been issued so far,” the official added.
Last year, the apex court had directed the use of anti-smog guns in Delhi and other NCR areas for large construction sites, road construction stretches, mining activities, large parking sites on unpaved areas and during large public gatherings and demolition activities. “It be made compulsory to make use of anti-smog guns in Delhi-NCR in projects that require environmental clearance from the State/Central level and which have a built-up area of more than 20,000 sqm, including excavation, material handling and other dust-generating activities. Let an appropriate policy decision be also taken with respect to cost of installation, duly considering the principle ‘polluters pay’ evolved by this court,” the bench had said.
While some experts have raised doubts over the efficacy of anti-smog guns, the top court had junked the intervention application by a Delhi-based doctor, who doubted the efficiency of these towers in the backdrop of limited research data.
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