Delhi Pollution Control Committee Collects Over ₹112 Crore in Environmental Compensation Since 2015
Safiya Malik
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has reported the collection of over ₹112 crore in environmental compensation fines from 2015 to November 2024, according to a submission made to the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The significant amount represents a consistent effort to penalize violators of environmental norms in the city, which has long been battling severe pollution challenges.
The report, submitted to the NGT, details the DPCC's enforcement actions against various polluters, including industrial units, construction sites, and other entities found violating environmental laws. The fines are part of a broader framework designed to deter non-compliance with environmental guidelines and regulations.
The NGT had sought a detailed account of the EC collected and its utilization from the DPCC. In its report dated December 26, the DPCC stated that it had accumulated ₹11,208.15 lakh (₹112.08 crore) as EC during this period. Of this, ₹3,605.66 lakh (₹36.05 crore) has been utilized so far for various environmental activities and projects.
The DPCC also provided details on the sources of EC collected since April 2015. The largest contributors included:
- Air Polluters: ₹18.84 crore.
- Construction Activities: ₹18.60 crore.
- Medical Establishments: ₹17.68 crore.
- Hotels: ₹13 crore for contravening environmental laws.
Other contributors included:
- Non-Conforming Areas: ₹14.40 crore.
- Plastic Bag Users: ₹2.11 crore.
- Illegal Borewell Users: ₹5.82 crore.
- Malls Violating Green Norms: ₹49 lakh.
The DPCC report provided a detailed breakdown of the funds utilized, revealing that the highest amount, approximately ₹10.11 crore, was spent on information, education, and communication activities. Other significant expenditures included:
- ₹8.77 crore: Strengthening monitoring systems, including the installation and operation of continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations and noise monitoring systems.
- ₹6.79 crore: Laboratory strengthening.
- ₹5.11 crore: Conducting NGT-directed studies.
- ₹2.16 crore: Research and development activities.
- ₹2.03 crore: Hiring experts and consultants for specific purposes, including paying honorariums.
- ₹1.05 crore: Scientific and technical activities.
The report noted that no funds were spent on categories such as "remediation of contaminated sites," "carrying capacity assessment," "specific investigations regarding environment and ecology," and "specialized studies on accidental spill areas or health impact assessments."
The report also highlighted violations such as illegal generators, tandoors, dyeing units, and pollution of the River Yamuna as additional sources of fines.
