GCC Imposes Strict Norms to Control Dust Pollution in Construction Sites

In a first-ever effort to curb increasing air pollution, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has imposed strict norms on construction work in the city. The new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) require developers to provide dust control mechanisms like barricades, continuous water spraying, and covered storage for construction waste.

The drive is in reaction to mounting worries regarding the contribution of unregulated construction dust to urban air pollution. Chennai alone produces approximately 800 metric tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) waste on a daily much of it inadequately managed, especially in transit.

Under the new norms, every construction site will have to install dust barriers and ensure cleanliness within the work area. Also, sites that have structures of over 18.5 metres in height have to install CCTV cameras to allow real-time monitoring by the authorities.

Defaulters will be penalized substantially from ₹10,000 to ₹5 lakh based on the project size and nature of the offense. Builders will be given a grace period of 15 days to make corrections in non-compliance before issuing fines. There will be one additional 7-day grace period after which construction activity can be brought to a standstill completely.

A senior GCC official stated that the new enforcement measures aim to bring accountability to an industry often seen flouting environmental norms. “We’ve received several complaints about dust pollution from construction zones. This framework is designed to ensure developers take proactive steps to reduce their environmental footprint,” the official said.

The Corporation plans to intensify inspections and may expand surveillance to smaller projects in the coming months.

As urban growth speeds up and green issues increase, the GCC’s move is a major move towards sustainable building methods in Chennai.