The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has instructed the Real Estate Sector in the National Capital Region to look over the air pollution caused by dust discharging from construction sites. An NGT bench headed by Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar ordered an immediate pull up to all construction activity in the NCR that do not follow the rules and regulations set forth in the 2010 guidelines of the Environment Ministry.
Justice Kumar also directed that all labours working on construction sites should be provided with masks. He also added, any builder, if found disobeying the orders, shall be liable to pay a fine of 50 thousand rupees.
The NGT has directed every owner and builder to put tarpaulin sheets around area of construction so the material does not disperse through air. The Tribunal has ordered the trucks or vehicles carrying construction material and debris to be covered completely. The NGT also directed all concerned authorities to take appropriate measures to ensure that all its directions are complied with.
Tidbits
- Government of India has recently launched the National Air Quality Index to monitor the quality of air in major urban centers across India on a real-time basis.
- High levels of air pollution can badly affect the functioning of lungs and it also trigger asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations.
- The primary pollutants of air are sulphur di-oxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen di-oxide, chloroflurocarbons, and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCS).
- It is estimated that, globally 7 million premature deaths are caused due to air pollution.
- According to WHO India has the highest death rate due to air pollution (especially asthma) than any other nation in the world.
