New Delhi, Nov 20 (NationPress) Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced on Thursday that the government has initiated real-time monitoring through the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) portal for dust control, issuing penalty notices totaling Rs 2.36 crore to violators.

He revealed that since October 15, inspections have been conducted on over 1,262 construction projects exceeding 500 sq m for dust pollution. Thanks to advanced technology, 747 sites have been registered with real-time video surveillance and air quality monitoring on the DPCC portal.

He emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring that all construction and demolition (C&D) sites larger than 500 sqm are registered, monitored, and adhere to strict dust mitigation regulations.

According to him, the DPCC Dust Pollution Control Self-Assessment Portal has been integrated with the Municipal Corporations’ building sanction process.

Sirsa mentioned that physical inspections have been carried out by 35 DPCC teams since October 15, targeting major construction sites across Delhi.

In the initial phase, 500 C&D projects were evaluated, unregistered projects identified, and decisive actions were taken — over 200 Show Cause Notices issued, 48 projects ordered to cease operations, and 35 projects penalized under Environmental Compensation provisions for dust violations, accumulating fines exceeding Rs 2.36 crore, a statement confirmed.

Sirsa stated, “We are diligently striving to implement systemic changes to effectively monitor harmful emissions that compromise the air quality in Delhi year-round, particularly during the winter months.”

“Every project is under continuous remote monitoring to ensure compliance. Fines, project closures, and strict enforcement are vital in addressing dust pollution at its source, be it from construction sites, vehicular traffic, or industrial operations. Our standard operating procedure is to inspect, evaluate, and take action,” he clarified.

From October 21 to November 14, the number of registered projects on the DPCC portal rose from 653 to 747 as the government’s strong compliance initiative gained traction, the statement reported.

Intensive inspections of these registered sites began on October 29, with 461 already assessed, and further actions pending against those violating dust control regulations.

The remote monitoring system — featuring 360-degree video surveillance and live-linked PM2.5 and PM10 sensors — guarantees ongoing enforcement and transparency. Public display boards showing the DPCC Portal registration ID are now compulsory at construction sites to keep compliance status visible to the public and stakeholders.

DPCC inspection teams are actively surveying Delhi to find unregistered projects. Of the 4,881 localities mapped across the city, 467 have undergone thorough inspections, and 33 violations have been reported for immediate action and show cause notices issued, as per the statement.