Anshul Agarwal

Vehicular emissions, industrial exhaust, mining operations, construction work and agricultural activities are some of the reasons behind air pollution. Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM), which is another reason, can be attributed to the release of dust particles in the air and can cause a host of health issues.

Since rapid construction activities in National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT) release gypsum, cement and other construction particles in the atmosphere every day, there has been an alarming increase in the level of SPM here. These, at present, are said to be 10 times higher than the acceptable levels.

Though the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) have time and again taken reasonable steps and issued guidelines, these norms have fallen on deaf ears.

Hardships faced by residents

With many new residential projects underway in NCT, residents living in the vicinity of such areas are an aggrieved lot. They rue that apart from suffering from diseases caused by construction dust, exhaust and fumes, they are facing many other health problems.

Many children in the newly developed sectors and townships are found to be suffering from asthma and the elderly have become victims of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Government guidelines

To protect people from such construction dust, rules have been issued from time to time but some developers, to cut cost, flout these norms.

Measures listed by the government

Tarpaulin sheets on scaffolding should cover the area of construction, so that dust particles remain confined to the construction site.
The construction material should not be thrown or stored in the open or on the roads.
Construction workers and all persons working at the construction site must wear proper masks.
Water should be sprinkled daily on barren land so that dust remains settled.
Wet jets should be used in grinding and stone-cutting instead of dry jets, because they release a lot of dust.
Green barriers and wind-breaking walls must be installed around construction sites.
Dust should be removed from the road around the construction site.
Trucks carrying sand, mortar, cement and other construction material should also be properly covered to avoid spilling during the transportation process.

Current issue

More than 100 residents of the developing sectors of Noida, such as Sectors 74, 75, 76 and 77, have complained about unmanageable dust pollution at construction sites to the National Green Tribunal. Residents of some neighborhoods in the area lament that such a pollution has resulted in health problems to them and their families.

NGT’s stand

Taking immediate action, NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar has directed corporations and authorities concerned to keep a constant vigil on developers who are raising huge buildings by breaching pollution norms and guidelines.

It has also issued a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the erring developers who are found to be violating the Ministry of Environment & Forest’s 2010 guidelines.

The municipal corporations have been directed to give a list of all the builders whose projects are on an area of more than 2,000 sq ft.

The NGT Bench directed developers to ensure that for economic gains they did not expose their workers, residents and the public at large to serious diseases. It further held that the fundamental right to life as granted by the Constitution includes right to live in a decent, clean environment and this right would take precedence over the right of any entity to carry on a business activity. So, if the construction was found to be causing deterioration of health among the common public, such construction should be banned, the Bench said.

The Bench had further directed the developers to take care of the medical expenses of all the people who were directly affected by the construction activities.