<span style="color: #222222;">The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has said that Inspection teams constituted to abate dust and related air pollution have levied environment compensation charges of nearly Rs 76 lakh on non-compliant entities. The Ministry said, the Commission for Air Quality Management for Delhi NCR and adjacent areas had directed the Central and State Pollution Control Board of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to launch inspection drives in the premises related to Construction and Demolition activities in the NCR.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Ministry said that inspections were conducted by these agencies from 31st December, 2020 to 15th January, 2021 by constituting about 174 teams at more than 1600 Construction and Demolition sites. The Ministry said, out of them about 119 sites were found to be non-compliant with the various Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules. It said, an amount of nearly Rs 51 lakh was levied as environment compensation charges against the defaulting agencies, besides orders for stoppage of work at 27 locations.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Environment Ministry also said that compliance with regard to transportation of materials related to Construction and Demolition activities was also checked by the inspecting teams. About 563 vehicles, not in conformance with guidelines were levied environment compensation charges of approximately Rs 25 lakh.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The Commission for Air Quality Management has also asked the state pollution boards that such fortnightly drives be continued to enforce compliance of the Construction and Demolition waste management rules and related guidelines to abate dust pollution which contributes significantly to poor air quality in the region.</span><br />