Delhi authorities collect Rs 68.4 lakh in fines on first day of pollution curbs
Nearly 15,000 vehicles were checked and 1,539 were turned back at border points on Sunday.
Delhi authorities imposed penalties and environmental compensation totalling Rs 68.4 lakh on Sunday, the first day of the Winter Action Plan enforcement, according to The New Indian Express. Official data available until 5 pm showed that 1,539 vehicles were turned back at border points for violating entry restrictions.
The total collection included Rs 56.6 lakh in fines for Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) violations, Rs 2 lakh for breaching vehicle entry restrictions, and Rs 9.8 lakh in environmental compensation for dust control violations at construction sites.
The Delhi Traffic Police and Transport Department checked 14,930 vehicles under restrictions on non-Delhi pre-BS-VI vehicles, turning back approximately 10.31 per cent of them. Of these, 127 challans were issued and 62 vehicles were impounded.
Among the vehicles turned back, 140 were light motor vehicles, 54 were light commercial vehicles, 95 were heavy goods vehicles, and 34 were buses. Additionally, 789 of the 1,423 two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and other vehicles checked were turned back.
Inspections at 300 construction sites resulted in Rs 9.8 lakh in environmental compensation. Of the sites inspected, 32 were found violating dust control norms, including 16 large sites and 17 smaller sites.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated on X that enforcement teams were monitoring compliance with vehicle entry, PUCC, and dust regulations. He noted that the quest for clean air requires collective efforts.