New Delhi, Nov 5 (Agency) Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Tuesday that more than 76,000 challans have been issued, and over 3,200 old vehicles have been seized since October as part of the government’s drive to reduce pollution from vehicles.Addressing the media after chairing a review meeting to assess the actions taken by all relevant departments to combat pollution, Rai said, “Teams involved in the Anti-Dust Campaign have so far inspected 7,927 construction sites and issued notices and challans to 428 sites for violations of the guidelines issued at construction sites.” “A fine of 6.3 million rupees has also been imposed,” he added, noting that 68 static anti-smog guns have been deployed on roads and in open areas to prevent dust from re-suspending. “Two hundred mobile anti-smog guns have been deployed in 70 assembly constituencies and hotspots to control dust on roads and in open areas.
A total of 146 anti-smog guns have been installed on tall buildings,” Rai said. “The Delhi government provides free spraying of Pusa bio-decomposer in paddy fields. This time, over 5,000 acres will receive the bio-decomposer spray. So far, spraying has been conducted on more than 3,258 acres of land,” Rai noted. “The government has taken several measures to reduce pollution from vehicles, with 76,558 challans issued and 3,248 old vehicles seized since October,” he said. He further mentioned that government departments, RWAs, and construction agencies have been instructed to distribute electric heaters to security guards to discourage open biomass and solid waste burning. “Security guards working at night on construction sites over 500 square meters have also been directed to receive electric heaters,” he said.