UPPCB imposes Rs 6.84 cr fine on NHAI for causing air pollution

NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board ( UPPCB) has enforced a fine of Rs 6.84 crore on the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for continuous construction activities that lead to air pollution in the district of Agra.

The UPPCB has directed NHAI to sprinkle water in all the construction sites, as pollution is one of the biggest concern for paling of Taj Mahal.

Bhuvan Yadav, regional officer, UPPCB, said that instructions have been issued to the Agra Municipal Corporation to carry out mechanised sweeping work to help reduce air pollution.

The board has also instructed brick kilns in Agra that are using old technology to switch over to Zig-Zag technology to help reduce air pollution. In zig- zag technology, bricks are arranged so to allow hot air to travel in a zigzag path. The length of the zigzag air path is about three times that of the conventional setup, and this improves the heat transfer from the flue gases to the bricks. Better mixing of air and fuel allows complete combustion, reducing coal consumption to about 20 per cent. The zig-zag design also ensures uniform distribution of heat, increasing the share of Class I bricks to about 90 per cent. It also reduces emissions considerably.

Yadav further added that various government agencies such as the Agra Development Authority, Awas Vikas and the Public Work Department (PWD), have been instructed if they carry out construction activities, they have to use dust suppressants.

All the demolition and construction waste rules will also have to be followed like sprinkling of water, establishing green cover, covering raw materials, among others, to reduce pollution in the city.