In a bid to tackle rising air pollution in the national capital, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has swung into action and issued challans worth over Rs 3 crore over a period of six months for violations in the areas of construction and demolition (C&D) sites besides constituting 372 monitoring teams in Delhi to implement the winter action plan 2024-25.

At a time when citizens are reeling from the health risks associated with the deterioration of AQI, an official data from the MCD reveals that a total of 1,372 challans amounting to Rs 2,69,10,000 for violations on C&D sites for the period April to October. this year was issued and a total of 16,85,000 was made while no challan was issued for open burning. The maximum challan was issued in October (398), followed by August (195), April (176), September (173), May (159), July (152) and June (119).

The monitoring teams consist of a total of 1,295 officers responsible for controlling open fires, illegal dumping of C&D waste, monitoring of C&D sites and dust on roads under its jurisdiction. In this context, for the inspection of C&D waste, a total of 75 teams comprising 301 personnel are deployed during the day and 71 teams comprising 261 personnel are deployed at night.

For the inspection of open burning or biomass, 113 teams composed of 350 people are deployed during the day and 113 teams composed of 383 people are deployed at night.

Official data from the MCD also revealed that a total of 10,953 end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) were seized during the period April 2023 to September 2024 and further measures to this effect have been expedited at the zonal level.

Earlier, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) had identified various micro-sources of air pollution linked to different agencies for 13 hotspots (Narela, Bawana, Mundka, Wazirpur, Rohini, RK Puram, Okhla, Jahangirpuri, Anand Vihar, Vivek Vihar, Punjabi Bagh). , Ashok Vihar and Dwarka).

Thus, the MCD, to combat air pollution near hotspots, has appointed Nodal Officers (Deputy Zonal Commissioners).

“In order to strengthen the implementation at the ground level, a monitoring committee of each revenue district (11 districts) has been constituted by the Ministry of Environment, GNCTD, to coordinate all specific pollution mitigation measures air during the winter months in order to implement GRAP directives, to carry out actions on the ground. visits and gap analysis of gaps,” said a senior MCD official, adding that 1,74,166 trees and 2,21,426 shrubs were planted in the jurisdiction of the civic body for the period April 2024 to October 2024 against the target of 2,36,000 trees and 3,83,000 shrubs.

It has a fleet of 195 water sprinklers or jet machines and 30 mobile anti-smog guns (ASG) which have been deployed on various roads to reduce dust pollution.

“The frequency of deployment of sprinklers has been increased in the hotspot area as per different stages of GRAP,” the officer said.

Besides, the MCD installed 20 ASGs in its various installations, 15 AGSs in identified high-rise buildings of the MCD as per the instructions of Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena and 95 ASGs at 32 construction sites.

To mitigate pollution caused by dust particles due to damaged roads, the MCD repaired roads over a length of 90 km during the period April to October 2024.

A senior official also said that MCD repaired around 11,398 potholes covering an area of ​​34,853 square meters from April to October.