SURAT: The agency responsible for the Dumas Seaface project has been fined Rs 5 lakh after inspections revealed insufficient measures to control dust pollution at the site.
Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal visited the site to assess the progress and observed that dust suppression systems and waste management protocols were not adhered to.
This penalty is part of the Surat Municipal Corporation’s (SMC) intensified measures against construction sites non-compliant with pollution control regulations. Since Thursday, SMC teams have scrutinized 266 construction projects throughout the city, fining 184 of them and totalling Rs 56 lakh in penalties.
On the first day of inspections alone, officials collected Rs 44 lakh from 145 sites that failed to comply. A significant number of violations were related to the lack of mandatory shade nets, crucial for preventing dust and debris from dispersing into nearby areas.
Varachha and Sarthana zones reported the highest number of violations, identified as hotspots for enforcement due to ongoing dense construction activity.
“Penalties were issued for the absence of shade nets and improper disposal of construction waste. Following state government directives on air pollution control, SMC is adopting a stringent approach,” stated a senior SMC official.
Officials also mentioned that contractors on public infrastructure projects will face penalties if caught violating pollution control regulations, and they have been notified about the need for compliance.
