Amid worsening air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR), real estate developers have requested that the government not impose bans on construction activities that don't contribute to pollution. The revised graded response action plan (GRAP) mandates construction bans during "severe" air quality conditions. Developers argue that not all construction activities cause pollution and have urged authorities to allow non-polluting work to continue to meet project deadlines. They emphasize the impact on laborers, who often return home due to frequent bans, causing delays in apartment deliveries and then hefty RERA fines for delivery delays.
Real estate developers in the National Capital Region (NCR) are appealing to the government not to impose construction bans on activities that don't contribute to pollution, as they strive to meet housing project deadlines. The revised graded response action plan (GRAP) mandates construction and demolition bans in the NCR during "severe" (Stage III) air quality conditions.
The NCR typically experiences poor air quality during the onset of winter when calm winds allow air pollutants to linger. The situation is made worse due to the smoke generated from crop stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana. While this has been a recurring issue, the government is yet to impose a ban in the current season.
Harsh V Bansal, the convenor of CII Delhi Sub-committee on Real Estate, Urban Development, and Infrastructure, emphasizes that not all construction activities result in pollution and suggests that the government should identify non-polluting activities. This can ensure that project delivery remains on schedule without compromising environmental goals.
Developers are concerned about the heavy penalties imposed by the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) for failing to deliver apartments within specified timeframes, as GRAP-related bans can lead to undefined delays.
The Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) of Delhi previously urged the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) not to ban construction on RERA-registered projects to avoid disrupting homebuyer deliveries. The Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI)-NCR also supports the notion that developers who have taken steps to reduce pollution at construction sites should be permitted to continue their work.
A ban on construction activities, even for just three days, can result in delays exceeding a month as it is difficult to reassemble the workforce and get the project back on track. This significantly delays apartment deliveries to homebuyers. This also directly impacts laborers who come from various states to work in Delhi NCR, as frequent bans force them into unemployment. To address these challenges, some construction companies and developers in India provide housing, food, and financial security to support their workforce during the ban periods. But this is not possible for all developers to follow.
It's worth noting that Stage III of the GRAP not only includes construction bans but also affects industries such as brick kilns, hot mix plants, stone crushers not operating on clean fuels, and mining activities in the NCR.
The push for selective exemptions for non-polluting construction activities aims to balance project timelines with environmental concerns.
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