A ban on construction and demolition activities is in place in Delhi under stage-3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). (Photo: File)Environment Minister Gopal Rai has directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to impose a fine of Rs 5 lakh on infrastructure developer L&T for violation of the ban on construction activities that is in place in Delhi-NCR.
After inspecting a construction site near Rouse Avenue, Rai said, “Construction material was lying uncovered. On inspecting the site, we found that stone cutting work was still happening here. L&T is doing the work here. Complete violations of the orders of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) were found here. A notice has been issued to L&T for a fine of Rs 5 lakh and they have been asked to stop the work.” Rai said that during the inspection, there were “large scale irregularities at the BJP’s under construction office site by L&T” and that construction was going on despite the ban on construction and demolition activities in Delhi. The site that Rai inspected was on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg.
A ban on construction and demolition activities is in place in Delhi under stage-3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) that was invoked on October 29 as part of emergency measures to deal with rising air pollution levels.
Meanwhile, Anil Baluni, head of BJP media cell said, “There was no construction happening at the site. The AAP made a forcible entry there with some media personnel. It was done with a political motive and we will be taking appropriate action against it.”
“The AAP’s nautanki politics is already exposed before the country. There has been no work at the site for the last month,” he added.
Even projects exempted from the ban are required to follow dust mitigation norms, which includes setting up anti-smog guns at construction sites of 5000 sq m or more. Measures under stage-3 of GRAP have been invoked based on forecasts that the air quality is likely to turn ‘severe’.
Meanwhile, no response was available from L&T.