Gurugram: Rs 22 lakh fines for GRAP violations so far, but only 6% recovered

GURUGRAM: MCG has issued a total of 204 challans amounting around Rs 22.3 lakh for violation of the guidelines of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) since it was implemented on October 1 till now. Of this amount, however, the civic body has recovered only 6% (around Rs 1.4 lakh) from three challans.
The highest number of fines were issued for keeping construction material uncovered as 91 people were imposed penalties amounting to Rs 9.5 lakh. Of these, MCG has recovered a fine of Rs 1 lakh from only one violator. It issued challans amounting to Rs 2.7 lakh to 38 violators for flouting the ban on construction activities. None of it has been recovered so far.
Moreover, MCG imposed as many as 31 fines for unauthorised dumping of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, amounting to Rs 5.4 lakh. A total of 28 challans amounting to Rs 46,500 have been issued for tandoor and coal burning.
MCG officials said the challans are imposed online and the amount can't be recovered on the spot. The violator has to pay the fine at the citizen facilitation centre (CFC), which is the reason behind the low recovery, they said.
The corporation recently constituted a dust control and management cell to ensure that dust control measures are implemented to combat air pollution in the city. It is headed by MCG commissioner Mukesh Kumar Ahuja. The cell will identify areas prone to dust pollution so that specific dust control measures are implemented on the ground.
It will also ensure increased mechanised road sweeping and sprinkling of water.
"We are informing residents through signage and announcements to follow the guidelines under stage 3 of GRAP. Recycled water is being sprinkled on the roads and the drive to impose penalties has been intensified, apart from regular mechanised sweeping of roads," said Subhash Yadav, the nodal officer for MCG's environment and sustainability wing.
On Monday, the air quality index (AQI) continued to be in the 'very poor' at 305, compared to 310 on Sunday.