The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has levied penalties worth Rs 51.80 lakh from 92 people, from real estate devolopers to individuals, in Noida between October 3 to 30. This was disclosed by an official from the Noida Authority on Friday.
The action was taken against the defaulters, including 18 contractors of Noida Authority, for carrying out construction activities in violation of pollution norms and thereby generating and releasing dust particles in the atmosphere adding to worsening air pollution.
The 18 Noida authority contractors were also charged a fine of Rs 50,000 each on carrying out construction in Noida sectors, including 1, 21A, 38, 57, 62, 63, 65, 71, 75, 77, 91, 101, 117, 121, 136, 121 and 150. Apart from the contractors, 63 individual plot owners have been penalised between Rs 20,000 to 30,000.
Many builders, including ATS, Ajnara Belvedere, Gold Green Buildcon, Antrichh Kenball and others have been fined Rs 5 lakh each for their negligent conduct.
Talking to CitySpidey, an official from the UPPCB said several violations were found in the raids carried out by the authority. He claimed that they spared none of the defaulters. Everyone, be they individuals, builders, developers or Noida authority contractors, all were made to pay up the fine amount.
Given the deteriorating air quality in the region after Diwali, a number of restrictions have been imposed on the construction activities, which include covering building material, sand and soil lying at construction sites to avoid dust generation. And, under the under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) restrictions on the construction activities have been imposed after the air quality turned ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’.
Meanwhile, besides construction activities, the Noida authority has restricted all potential dust-generating activities like stone crushing hot mix plants, etc. from 6 pm to 10 am till November 2 and will be revising the order based on the air quality hereafter.
