Delhi currently has 611 active construction and demolition sites and, of these, 282 have not installed air quality sensors. Environment department has also prepared a colour-coded online framework for web-based monitoring of the C&D sites to take action against those causing dust pollution.
Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas has made it compulsory for construction sites spread over 5,000 sqm to be registered on the portal of Delhi Pollution Control Committee. Large construction sites are required to install air quality sensors that provide real-time data.
Dust is one of the major sources of pollution in summer as well as winter.
According to data shared by environment department during a review meeting with CAQM on March 27, of the total 611 active C&D sites in Delhi, 329 are providing air quality data, while 282 have not installed air quality sensors. Of these 282 sites, Rajouri Garden (63), Greater Kailash I (41), Kalkaji (38), Punjabi Bagh (37) and Vasant Vihar (31) areas have a higher density of active construction sites within a 3km range that do not upload the air quality monitoring data.
The colour-coded web-based mechanism is expected to aid in online monitoring of construction and demolition sites and to ensure that they comply with dust norms. A “yellow” alert will be sounded if there is no air quality data issued in the last 24 hour or if data shows PM10 levels to be 20% higher than the threshold.
After the ‘yellow’ alert is issued, an auto-generated alert SMS or letter will be sent to the builder to take corrective action.
An ’orange’ alert will be placed if there are more than four yellow alerts in the last seven days. In this case, the builder will be directed to submit a written response to DPCC. A ‘red’ alert will come into force when there are more than four orange alerts in the past 30 days. The builder concerned will be issued a warning letter to take corrective action and submit a written report within three days. A ‘purple’ alert will be sounded when an action report is not submitted within the prescribed time limit. It would lead to physical investigation by DPCC for punitive measures. Such sites will be immediately restricted from carrying out any further pollution-intensive activities.
“After all active construction and demolition sites install air quality sensors, we we will make this online monitoring system operational. The mechanism will help ensure that all sites comply with dust norms,” an official with environment department said.
According to a source apportionment study carried out by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) in 2018, dust (soil, road and construction) contributes to 25% of PM10 and 17% of PM2.5 in Delhi’s air pollution during winter season. Its contribution in summer, however, is 42% of PM10 and 38% of PM2.5.