Delhi pollution crackdown: 15,000 vehicles turned back, Rs 68.4 lakh penalty imposed on day one of curbs
PTC News Desk: Delhi authorities imposed fines and environmental compensation totalling ₹68.4 lakh on the first day of the Winter Action Plan. Teams checked nearly 15,000 vehicles, turned back 1,539 at border points and issued 566 challans for vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates.
Official figures up to 5 pm on Sunday showed that ₹56.6 lakh was collected for PUC violations, ₹2 lakh for breaking vehicle-entry restrictions and ₹9.8 lakh as environmental compensation for dust-control violations at construction and demolition sites.
Under restrictions on non-Delhi vehicles below BS-VI standards, the Traffic Police and Transport Department checked 14,930 vehicles and turned back about 10.3% of them. They issued 127 challans, impounded 62 vehicles and imposed fines totalling ₹2 lakh.
The vehicles turned back included 140 light motor vehicles, 54 light commercial vehicles, 95 heavy goods vehicles and 34 buses. Of the 1,423 two-wheelers, three-wheelers and other vehicles checked, 789 were turned back and 38 were impounded.
Authorities also checked 7,279 vehicles that were not headed for Delhi and turned back 314. No challans were issued in this category. A further 740 CNG vehicles, electric vehicles and vehicles providing essential services were allowed to enter because they were exempt from the restrictions.
In a separate drive, officials issued 566 challans to vehicles without valid PUC certificates, imposing fines of ₹56.6 lakh. The Traffic Police issued 493 challans worth ₹49.3 lakh, while the Transport Department issued 73 challans totalling ₹7.3 lakh.
300 construction sites inspected
Authorities inspected 300 construction and demolition sites to check dust pollution and found 32 violating the rules. They imposed environmental compensation of ₹9.8 lakh. Among 91 large sites with plots bigger than 500 square metres, 16 were found violating the norms. Officials issued two closure orders and four show-cause notices and imposed ₹4 lakh in compensation.
Of 209 smaller sites, 17 were found breaking dust-control rules. Authorities issued 15 closure orders and 15 show-cause notices and imposed ₹5.8 lakh in compensation. Across all 300 sites, officials issued 17 closure orders and 19 show-cause notices. No violations were found at infrastructure projects exempt from the rules.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on X that enforcement teams were checking compliance with vehicle-entry restrictions, PUC certificate requirements and construction dust-control rules. "Today 14,930 vehicles checked, 566 PUC challans and 300 sites inspected. Keep PUC valid, follow entry rules and dust norms. The quest for clean air needs our collective efforts," he said.
- PTC NEWS
