Delhi’s Anti-Pollution Drive: ₹68.4 Lakh in Fines, 1,500 Vehicles Sent Back

Delhi’s Winter Pollution Crackdown: ₹68.4 Lakh in Penalties, Over 1,500 Vehicles Denied Entry

Delhi launched its Winter Action Plan enforcement drive on Sunday, imposing penalties and environmental compensation worth ₹68.4 lakh. During the first day, authorities checked 14,930 vehicles, turned back 1,539 and issued 566 challans for operating without valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) documents.

Official data available until 5 pm showed that PUCC violations accounted for the biggest share of the penalties at ₹56.6 lakh. Authorities also imposed ₹2 lakh for violations of vehicle entry restrictions and ₹9.8 lakh as environmental compensation for breaches of dust-control regulations at construction and demolition sites, PTI reported.

Vehicles Checked at Border Points
The Delhi Traffic Police and Transport Department inspected 14,930 vehicles under restrictions applicable to non-Delhi vehicles below BS-VI emission standards. Around 10.31 per cent were sent back, while 127 challans were issued and 62 vehicles impounded. The action resulted in fines of ₹2 lakh.

The vehicles turned away included 140 light motor vehicles, 54 light commercial vehicles, 95 heavy goods vehicles and 34 buses. Among 1,423 two-wheelers, three-wheelers and other vehicles checked, 789 were denied entry and 38 were impounded.

Officials separately checked 7,279 vehicles that were not destined for Delhi, turning back 314. No challans were issued in this category. A total of 740 CNG vehicles, electric vehicles and vehicles providing essential services were verified and permitted to enter under the exemptions.

PUCC Violations Drive Most of the Penalties
The crackdown on vehicles without valid PUCC certificates resulted in 566 challans and fines amounting to ₹56.6 lakh.

Of these, the Delhi Traffic Police issued 493 challans, imposing ₹49.3 lakh in penalties. The Transport Department accounted for the remaining 73 challans, with fines totalling ₹7.3 lakh.

Dust-Control Violations Found at 32 Sites
As part of the campaign against construction-related dust pollution, enforcement teams inspected 300 construction and demolition sites. They identified violations at 32 locations and imposed environmental compensation of ₹9.8 lakh.

Among 91 large sites measuring more than 500 square metres, 16 failed to comply with dust-control requirements. Authorities issued two closure directions and four show-cause notices, along with compensation of ₹4 lakh.

At smaller sites, 17 violations were detected among 209 inspections. Officials issued 15 closure directions and 15 show-cause notices, imposing ₹5.8 lakh in compensation.

Overall, the inspections resulted in 17 closure directions and 19 show-cause notices. No violations were reported at infrastructure projects covered by exemptions.

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said teams were checking compliance with vehicle entry restrictions, PUCC requirements and construction dust regulations.

In a post on X, Sirsa said 14,930 vehicles had been checked, 566 PUC challans issued and 300 sites inspected. He appealed to people to maintain valid pollution certificates and follow entry restrictions and dust-control rules, emphasising that cleaner air required collective action.

Restrictions to Remain in Place Until February 28
Delhi’s Winter Action Plan includes several measures that will remain effective for different durations between November 1 and February 28.

Non-Delhi vehicles below BS-VI standards will not be permitted to enter the capital until January 31. Dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction activities have also been banned, except for specified essential public infrastructure projects.

A wider ban on construction and demolition work, subject to certain exemptions, will apply from December 10 to January 20.

Other measures include doubling parking charges at authorised parking facilities until February 28. Government and private offices have also been asked to restrict physical attendance to 50 per cent from November 1 to January 31, with the remaining workforce operating from home. Essential and emergency services are exempt from the arrangement.