Lok Sabha Question No. 2066 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-12
Subject: Control of Air and Dust pollution
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Bidyut Baran Mahato, Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Sudheer Gupta, Shrirang Appa Barne

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2066

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2021

## Control of Air and Dust pollution

2066.  SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Commission  for  Air  Quality  Management  has  directed  the  Central Pollution Control Board and the State Pollution Control Boards to constitute special teams  and  launch  inspection  drives  in  order  to  monitor  and  mitigate  dust  and corresponding air pollution;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  States  which  have  constituted  such  special teams and conducted inspections;
- (c) the details of the agencies/sites found to be violating Rules/Guidelines and other dust mitigation measures as stipulated by the Government and the CPC Board; and
- (d) whether the Government has taken any action to check recurrence of such violations by these agencies and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) & (b) The Commission for Air Quality Management directed the Central Pollution Control Board, the State pollution Control Boards of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi Pollution Control Committee to constitute special team and launch inspection drives to monitor the premises, processes and transportation of  materials related to construction  and demolition (C & D) activities in the NCR.

(b) & (c) Intensive drives were conducted by these agencies  from 24.12.2020 to 31.12.2020 by  constituting  about  227  teams  on  the  directions  of  the  Commission.    The  progress  of inspection  of  C&D  sites  for  compliance  of  dust  control  measures  by  CPCB/SPCBs  and DPCC was also reviewed by the sub-committee on 'Safeguarding and Enforcement' in  its meeting  held  on  8th  January,  2021  and  directed  that  inspections  be  intensified  with  strict actions, including levying deterrent environmental compensation charges and the fortnightly reports be timely submitted. The Commission has also issued direction to invoke the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) already notified by the Central Government ( Annexure-I ).

(c) & (d) These teams carried out surprise checks and  inspections at  more than 5,725 C&D  sites  of  which  about  836  sites  were  found  to  be  non-compliant  with  various  C&D Waste  Management  Rules  /  Guidelines  and  dust  mitigation  measures  stipulated  by  the Ministry and CPCB.  Further, an amount of approx. Rs.2.56 crore was levied as environment compensation charge against the defaulting agencies, besides orders for stoppage of work at 84  locations.  The  compliance  with  respect  to  transportation  of  materials  related  to  C&D activities was also seen by the inspecting teams.  About 1,176 vehicles, not in conformance with  guidelines  related  to  transportation  of  C&D  materials,  were  levied  environment compensation charges totaling approximately Rs. 1.67 crore.  It may also be noted that such fortnightly drives are being continued to enforce compliance of the C&D waste management Rules  and  related  guidelines  to  abate  dust  pollution  from  C&D  sector,  which  contributes significantly to poor air quality in the region.

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