Anti-dust measures: Work on Pragati Maidan tunnel halted

NEWDELHI: As pollution levels continue to soar in Delhi, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on Tuesday stopped construction work at two sites including the Pragati Maidan tunnel project.

The 1.1-km-long tunnel, which is part of Pragati Maidan redevelopment project, aims to decongest Mathura Road, Bhairon Marg and Ring Road. The work is being carried out by the Public Works Department ( PWD). Under the project, the six-lane tunnel will pass beneath Pragati Maidan and will connect Mathura Road with Ring Road. The tunnel is expected to take the traffic loads off from the ITO intersection, Mathura Road and Bhairon Marg areas.

According to SDMC officials, the civic body had also halted construction work at Don Bosco School in Sukhdev Vihar and imposed a fine of ₹5 lakh on the school for not following norms.

The actions were taken after SDMC commissioner Puneet

Goel on Tuesday instructed the zonal concerned departments to immediately stop ongoing construction works following the orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Central Pollution Control Board in the wake of increasing pollution in the city.

“The action has been taken after carrying out an inspection at site where dust was found to be generated despite a letter of warning being issued earlier,” an SDMC statement said.

The statement added that it was found that the construction site at Don Bosco School was not

covered by tarpaulin and the construction material there was also not fully covered leading to dust emissions. Workers at the site were also not provided masks.

Earlier this month, SDMC had stopped construction at ITPO Complex near Pragati Maidan, which is being built by the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC), and at two Metro stations — Lajpat Nagar and Sarai Kale Khan. Later the construction at these project sites had resumed after they complied with the norms, a SDMC spokesperson said. GURUGRAM: Gurugram’s Deputy Commissioner ( DC) Vinay Pratap Singh on Tuesday issued an order banning the sale of all crackers, except green crackers, in the district, following a Supreme Court order last week.

In a separate order, the DC also fixed the time — from 8pm to 10pm on November 7 — during which crackers can be burst on the day of Diwali festival. Bursting of crackers on any other day from October 30 till November 8 is prohibited, the order said.

Meanwhile, the city police said that they have already given directions to all station house officers (SHOS) for implementing the timing and enforcing the ban on crackers, except green crackers.

Green crackers are made from eco-friendly materials and compared to conventional firecrackers, have lower emission and decibel levels upon bursting.

“We are also making sure that wholesalers who had stocked up on crackers before the Supreme Court order are not selling them,” said Subhash Boken, the spokesperson for the Gurugram police.

The police and district administration said that green crackers are yet to hit the market.

Munish Sharma, the additional deputy commissioner, said that traders who want to obtain a licence for selling crackers will have to prove to the district administration that they have green crackers. He added that it is highly unlikely that traders would be able to obtain green crackers before Diwali.

“Green crackers are not being commercially produced and the licence has not been issued to any trader for selling crackers,” said Sharma.

Boken said that if anyone is found selling crackers, the police will coordinate with the district administration to check whether the materials being sold are indeed green crackers.

The DC said in the order that station house officers (SHOS) of respective areas are responsible for the implementation of the orders.