Delhi air quality ‘poor’, construction firms fined for violating pollution control norms

The national capital on Tuesday woke up to a 'poor' air quality. At the Lodhi Road area, the Air Quality Index (AQI) PM 2.5 was at 159 (poor category) and PM 10 at 134 (poor category), according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). At the Major Dhyan Chand National area, PM 2.5 was at 233 (poor category) and PM 10 at 248 (poor category). AQI at Siri Fort Delhi was recorded hazardous, PM 2.5 was at 193 (poor category) while PM 10 at 334 (very poor category).

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On Monday, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation collected Rs 3.5 lakh as penalties from seven construction companies for "violation" of air pollution control norms.  “Each company has been slapped with a fine of Rs 50,000,” the SDMC said in a statement.

"SDMC has taken massive action during first three days of December against seven construction companies involved in generating air pollution and deteriorating pollution level in the city. Each company has been fined with an amount of Rs. 50,000 resulting in the recovery of Rs. 3.5 lakh," the statement said.

“The companies are NBCC, Shapoorji Pallonji Group, ITPO, L&T Construction Transportation and Infrastructure at Bhairo Road, SJ Kumar for DMRC Sarai Kale Khan, DMRC Okhla, and Spencer ISP Network, Okhla,” it said.
"The DEMS department has been asked to concentrate on social functions like 'bhandaras' (community meals) inside and outside religious places, marriages and birthday parties and other events. Littering garbage in the city will not be tolerated at all," PTI quoted Municipal Commissioner Puneet Kumar Goel as saying.  

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Delhi is reeling under the menace of air pollution for the past couple of years. The region faced a major air quality crisis last year when severe pollution level forced the shutdown of schools and colleges. In 2016, the government tried to explore the possibility of cloud seeding for artificial rain but the plan never worked out. 

AQI categories:

1. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’
2. AQI between 51 and 100 is ‘satisfactory’
3. AQI between 101 and 200 is ‘moderate’
4. AQI between 201 and 300 is ‘poor’
5. AQI between 301 and 400 is ‘very poor’