Delhi Metro launches special drive to ensure adherence to pollution norms at construction sites

New Delhi: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has launched a special drive across its construction sites to ensure that all pollution control measures necessary to combat the menace of pollution at its projects are being stringently implemented by its contractors and other site personnel.

As part of the drive, the frequency of the inspections done to check the adherence to the pollution control measures has been enhanced. Teams headed by senior officials from the Environment Department of DMRC are visiting all the sites and minutely checking the arrangements done in this regard and the drive is being monitored by DMRC's Managing Director Dr Mangu Singh.

The teams are checking whether continuous dust & wind-breaking barricades of the height of least six meters around the batching plants are installed or not and whether conveyor belts within the batching plants are fully covered to prevent the escape of dust.

Similarly, checking of wheel washing facilities at the exit gates to prevent deposition of soil/muck on the public road, where there is a regular movement of vehicles is being done. The validity of PUC mandatory for all construction vehicles is also being checked. The drive is also monitoring whether all construction materials and debris are being transported in covered vehicles. 

ALSO READ: Break the Peak: Delhi Metro asks commuters to avoid travel during peak hours

They are also monitoring the use of nozzle-based mist systems in addition to sprinkling to control dust emission from the construction sites. The process of spraying of water to suppress dust, during handling of excavation soil or debris or during demolition or specific dust-generating activities is being checked. The inspection teams are reiterating that water sprinkling and dust control activities are to be continued even during work stoppages.

In addition, the teams will ensure that construction activities continue to be carried out only within barricaded areas. In the case the construction work is located near residential or commercial properties, the height of the barricade is to be increased to 10 m or 1/3rd height of the building whichever is less and the same is being ensured by the DMRC officials.

The teams are checking the implementation of the provision for covered storage facility with a sprinkling system for sand and aggregate storage. As per guidelines soil, sand aggregates, the debris of any kind and all dust prone materials that are stored at site are to be fully covered with tarpaulin or green net with proper anchorage so that they do not disperse in the air in any form. Designated storage space for C&D waste and quick disposal of C&D waste to the designated recycling plant is also being checked. Whether dust masks for construction workers have been provided is also being verified.

While these measures are implemented at the sites round the year, this drive is being organised to reinforce the importance of following the pollution control norms, especially in light of the continuous deterioration of air quality around the NCR currently. In the present scenario, when pollution levels are high, DMRC is concentrating on undertaking activities that are non-polluting in nature such as staging, shuttering/ de-shuttering activities, underground works, electrical works, wiring, signaling works etc.

DMRC has always laid a great focus on following pollution control norms at all its sites and premises. Apart from these inspections, regular plantation drives are also organised at the sites from time to time to increase the green cover. Currently, work is in progress at about five to six sites of DMRC across the national capital.

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Telegram. Join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram and stay updated)