Over 300 pollution-related challans in Rohini in a day violations persist across Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 4 (PTI) The MCD issued 303 challans for pollution-related violations in its North West zone on Wednesday, the highest among its 12 zones, even as open waste burning, construction without adequate dust-control measures and road dust continue to be reported across the capital amid worsening air quality.

    The figure was part of the MCD's daily action-taken report, which recorded enforcement activity by joint teams deployed across the city to check violations of pollution-control norms.

    The North West zone (Rohini) had issued 160 challans during daytime patrolling on November 2 and 199 on November 3, before the number rose to 303 on Wednesday. The zone also had 91 of its 94 nominated personnel present during the day shift on November 4.

    Other zones also reported enforcement action. Central North issued 221 daytime challans on Wednesday, while West zone reported 210 and South East 147. South zone issued 155 challans and South West 105.

    The figures come against the backdrop of continued violations in several parts of Delhi, where construction and demolition work is being carried out without adequate green covers, debris is being dumped in the open, and garbage is being burnt. Despite joint enforcement teams being deployed for day and night patrolling, pollution-control restrictions have had limited visible impact in several localities.

    Delhi's air quality settled at 377 in the 'very poor' category on Wednesday, edging towards the 'severe' threshold, with 22 monitoring stations recording 'severe' pollution levels.

    MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar said the civic body had identified 48 pollution hotspots, each covering an area within a radius of around 3 to 3.5 km, and was addressing sources such as road dust, encroachments and traffic congestion.

    The corporation currently has 66 mechanical road sweeping machines (MRSMs) operating in the city. Their shifts have been extended from eight to 12 hours to cover more roads, he said.

    "Approximately 12 machines will arrive by the middle of November, and the remaining 55 machines will arrive from the first week of December until the end of December," Khirwar said, adding that the corporation was also trying to hire additional machines.

    He said the MCD was using water sprinklers, anti-smog guns and jetting machines for deep cleaning, particularly on roads with heavier dust accumulation. Litter pickers had also been deployed to collect waste lying in the open before it could be burnt.

    On open waste burning, Khirwar said 125 squads had been constituted to check incidents across the city. The squads are operating in double shifts, and advisories have been issued to discourage people from burning waste.

    Challans are also being imposed against violators, he said.

    The MCD's November 4 report listed 116 surveillance vehicles for the enforcement exercise, along with 152 day-patrolling teams and 121 night-patrolling teams. The corporation has deployed around 700 personnel across its 12 zones, while the Delhi government has separately deployed around 500 personnel for pollution monitoring.

    Khirwar also said the MCD was installing cameras equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology at its toll points to assist enforcement of restrictions on vehicles below BS-VI emission standards.

    Testing is expected to begin next week, after which vehicle data will be shared with the Delhi Police to strengthen enforcement, he said.

    The commissioner said the corporation was also working on a school-based awareness programme to explain waste segregation and disposal to children, including what happens to plastic, wet waste and other discarded material after collection. The content is expected to be introduced in municipal schools by the middle of next week.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)