Fine of Rs 23 lakh imposed on owners of construction sites

Rohtak Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata has maintained that the district administration was taking effective steps to enforce the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-IV in order to check environmental pollution in the district.

He briefed Haryana Chief Secretary, Vivek Joshi, through a video conference about the implementation of the GRAP-IV guidelines in those districts of the state which fall under the National Capital Region (NCR).

The Chief Secretary directed deputy commissioners and other officers of NCR districts to ensure strict enforcement of the GRAP-IV guidelines in their respective districts.

Helpline numbers released

• The residents can also lodge their complaints related to pollution and violation of GRAP-IV norms at Room No. 102 on the first floor of the mini-secretariat.
• The contact number for the pollution control room is 01262-230401 and WhatsApp number is 8526311000.

“Construction sites are being raided and their owners/managers are being challaned for violation of prescribed norms,” said Khadgata, adding that a total fine of Rs 23 lakh had been imposed in this regard.

The Deputy Commissioner asked the officials concerned to ensure the closure of all construction and demolition activities in the district.

In another related development, a pollution control room has also been set up at the local mini-secretariat to deal with the complaints regarding the violation of GRAP-IV norms in the district.

The contact number for the pollution control room is 01262-230401 and WhatsApp number is 8526311000.

The residents can also lodge their complaints related to pollution and violation of GRAP-IV norms at Room No. 102 on the first floor of the mini-secretariat.

He also told the local municipal authorities to check burning of garbage. Meanwhile, the district administration has advised the corporate and other private employers to adopt the work-from-home regime at their offices.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Narender Kumar stated private employers had been advised to work from home as per the GRAP-IV guidelines. “They have been asked to run their offices with 50 per cent staff and ask the remaining 50 percent to work from home,” he maintained.