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, a senior DMRC officials said, adding that teams headed by senior officials from the environment department are visiting all the sites and minutely checking the arrangements done in this regard and the drive is being monitored by Managing Director Dr Mangu Singh. “The teams are checking whether continuous dust breaking barricades of height of least 6 meters around the batching plants are installed or not and whether conveyor belts within the batching plants are fully covered to prevent escape of dust,” he said.
Similarly, checking of wheel washing facilities at the exit gates to prevent deposition of soil or muck on public roads where there is a regular movement of vehicles is being done; he said adding that validity of PUC mandatory for all construction vehicles is also being checked.
“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” he said.
The official said 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, height of 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” he said.
“The teams are checking the implementation of the provision for a covered storage facility with a sprinkling system for sand and aggregate storage. As per guidelines soil, sand aggregates, 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,” he said.
