Advertisement
What really powers the cloud? Behind every Google search, A...
A lot of what defines a home isn’t visible at handover. I...
Private equity has played a significant role in shaping Indi...
Luxury real estate is one of the most talked-about segments ...
Airports play a much bigger role than just enabling travel -...
The Delhi government has made it compulsory for all construction and demolition sites across the capital to use green dust-control nets with a minimum thickness of 100 GSM to curb pollution caused by construction activity. The move follows recent assessments that found thinner nets ineffective in stopping dust particles from spreading into surrounding areas. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee has directed all project proponents and civic agencies to implement the rule with immediate effect. The government is also expanding digital monitoring of construction sites through Dust Portal 2.0 to improve compliance, tracking and enforcement of anti-pollution measures across Delhi.
The Delhi government has introduced stricter dust-control norms for construction and demolition activities by making the use of 100 GSM green dust-control nets mandatory at all project sites across the capital. The direction was issued by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) as part of wider efforts to control pollution caused by large-scale construction activity in the city. Advertisement
Authorities said the decision was taken after inspections and technical assessments found that many construction sites were using low-quality and thinner green mesh sheets that were unable to effectively stop dust from spreading into surrounding areas. Officials observed that the existing nets used at several locations allowed particulate matter to pass through easily, reducing the overall impact of dust-control measures already in place.
Under the revised norms, all project developers, contractors and construction agencies will now have to install green nets with a minimum density of 100 grams per square metre (GSM). The government believes that standardising the quality of dust barriers will improve on-site pollution management and reduce airborne dust generated from excavation, drilling, demolition and transportation of construction materials.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the government was focusing on practical and enforceable pollution-control measures supported by technology and stricter compliance systems. He stated that construction-related pollution remains a major concern in Delhi and stronger technical standards were necessary to improve implementation on the ground.
Construction and demolition activities continue to be among the leading contributors to particulate pollution in Delhi, particularly PM10 and PM2.5 emissions. During dry weather conditions and peak construction periods, dust from infrastructure projects, residential developments and roadwork often leads to a sharp rise in air pollution levels across several parts of the city.
Earlier regulations already required construction sites to install green nets, barricades and covering sheets around active work zones and stored construction material. However, there was no fixed benchmark regarding the thickness or quality of the material being used. Officials said the absence of a technical standard led to inconsistent implementation, with many sites using cheaper and ineffective alternatives merely to meet basic compliance requirements.
The DPCC has directed agencies including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Central Public Works Department and the Public Works Department to ensure immediate implementation of the revised norms across all ongoing projects.
The government is also strengthening its monitoring systems through Dust Portal 2.0, an upgraded digital platform designed to track construction and demolition activities across Delhi. Registration of project sites on the portal has already been made mandatory, and officials said the upgraded system will help improve transparency, inspections and enforcement of anti-pollution measures.
The latest direction follows a series of stricter pollution-control measures introduced across Delhi-NCR over recent months. The Commission for Air Quality Management had earlier tightened rules related to construction waste disposal, transportation of debris and dust mitigation systems at large infrastructure and real estate projects. Authorities have also continued to enforce measures such as anti-smog guns, regular water sprinkling and covering of vehicles transporting construction waste.
Industry observers said the new rule could marginally increase compliance costs for contractors and developers, especially at large project sites, but may help create more uniform dust-control standards across the city. Officials maintained that stronger enforcement and regular inspections would remain critical for the effectiveness of the new norms.
Source PTI
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
