Government issues dust mitigation deadline

NEW DELHI: The Environment Ministry sets deadline to implement measures for dust mitigation. Ministry asked National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and some major infrastructure agencies to implement measure by March 31 or face suspension of construction work.

The Ministry sent letters to NHAI, DMRCC and NBCC, last month, with recent rule amendments that make it mandatory for projects needing environment clearance to ensure mitigation of dust.

The Ministry already notified an amendment to the environment protection, on January 25.

C K Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, sent a letter to NHAI chairman Deepak Kumar, DMRC MD Mangu Singh and NBCC chairman Anoop Mittal and wrote, “The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified a regulation in this regard recently outlining the measures to be taken for dust mitigation for all construction activities. A copy of the regulation is enclosed for your perusal and necessary action. I request you to ensure the enforcement of dust mitigation measures as elaborated in the regulation.”

According to sources, the primary reason for the amendment is the annual dip in air quality every winter.131 tons of dust is generated every day, which makes suspended particulate matter levels shoot through the roof on cloudy dayand AQI touches poor mark.