MCG has issued 195 challans worth Rs 23 lakh under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) violations since its implementation on October 1.At 105, the highest number of challans (Rs18.6 lakh) have been issued to the construction sites for not following norms, 17 challans worth Rs 2.3 lakh have been issued for unauthorised dumping of C&D waste and 43 challans of Rs 27,500 have been issued for garbage dumping.
Out of Rs 23 lakh, challans to the tune of Rs 11.9 lakh have only been issued to the construction sites not stopping work despite the ban being imposed. Moreover, the civic body has also issued 20 challans amounting to Rs 1.4 lakh for non-compliance of solid waste management (SWM) rules, 2016.
Only nine challans have been issued for garbage burning after imposing a penalty of Rs 45,000 on the violators. Environmentalists however raise concerns that garbage burning is likely going unreported in the city since waste is seen strewn across roads and vacant plots.
“We are continuously sprinkling swage treatment plant (STP) water on the plants and roads to settle dust. Our teams are also checking for violations under GRAP,” said MCG joint commissioner Naresh Kumar (Swachh Bharat Mission).
The environment and sustainability wing of MCG has deputed officials to ensure that the GRAP guidelines are followed from October 1.
The officers have been directed to ensure that the dust mitigation measures are followed, solid waste, construction and demolition (C&D) waste and hazardous waste is regularly lifted. However, C&D waste is lying at multiple sites across the city and has not been lifted despite implementation of GRAP norms.