Home / Environment / Dust Fines Miss Mark: Delhi Civic Body Recovers Only 5% of Penalties
Dust Fines Miss Mark: Delhi Civic Body Recovers Only 5% of Penalties
11 Jan
Summary
- MCD issued Rs 3.6 crore in dust violation challans but recovered only Rs 19.5 lakh.
- Smaller construction sites saw higher challans but minimal fine recovery.
- Experts stress compliance is crucial for air quality improvements.
Between September 1 and December 31, 2025, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) issued 2,122 challans for dust violations, amounting to Rs 3.6 crore in penalties. However, actual fine recoveries were a mere Rs 19.5 lakh, highlighting a significant enforcement gap. Challans issued to smaller construction sites under 500 square meters in December alone amounted to Rs 99.4 lakh, with only Rs 9 lakh recovered, despite thousands of inspections.
Enforcement for larger construction projects also showed weakness. Out of 1,629 sites over 500 square meters, only 42 received challans totaling Rs 30 lakh, with just Rs 1 lakh recovered. From April to December 2025, the building department issued 2,920 challans worth Rs 4.8 crore, but collected only Rs 28.1 lakh. November saw the highest number of challans post-Diwali, reflecting increased pollution levels.
While MCD officials cite limited staff and focus on behavioral change over mere penalties, experts like Anumita Roychowdhury of CSE argue that visible on-ground changes are essential for enforcement to succeed. Recovery processes, including attaching arrears or issuing notices under building bylaws, are reportedly time-consuming, with slow progress in pending cases.
