Construction curbs all winter? Delhi builders push back against new pollution plan

Concerns raised

On July 28, a group of marble and steel traders, cement manufacturers, contractors, architects, and suppliers held a discussion under the banner of NAREDCO Delhi and Nirman Bachao Udyog Morcha (NBUM) on the far-reaching implications of the ban.

“Beyond project delays, we highlighted how seasonal shutdowns disrupt livelihoods across the value chain,” Harsh Vardhan Bansal, a real estate developer who heads NAREDCO and CII Delhi, stated.

He highlighted how daily wage labourers return to their hometowns and often do not come back in time, while suppliers and ancillary industries face severe cash flow stress, with many at risk of shutting down altogether.

The next day, a delegation from CII’s Delhi state chapter met Sirsa and highlighted the need for a balanced and consultative approach that safeguards both environmental objectives, and the continuity of critical infrastructure and real estate projects while reviewing the winter action plan.

Sirsa “appreciated the industry’s perspectives and gave his full assurance of the government’s support in addressing these issues,” a social media post by Bansal noted.

The recommendations

At the July 28 meeting, members of the group proposed a more nuanced approach: while activities such as demolition or excavation work may be restricted during winter, all other construction activities — finishing work, interior fit-outs, electrical, plumbing, and non-dust-generating tasks — should be permitted to continue.

Bansal said a key recommendation from the meeting was the implementation of a clear “do’s and don’ts’ list for construction activities during this period.

This, he said, will provide clarity to developers, contractors, and enforcement agencies while ensuring that work continues in a responsible and regulated manner.

Winter curbs

The government’s winter pollution framework was notified on July 1, consolidating multiple annual orders into a permanent set of rules that will automatically apply every year from November 1 to February 28.

It had said the decision was based on air quality trends over the past three winters, when Delhi consistently recorded ‘Very Poor’ to ‘Severe’ air quality. These measures will operate alongside the Graded Response Action Plan. Experts had criticised frequent implementation and withdrawal of GRAP.

Here’s what it mandates:

November 1 to January 31:

• Demolition work and open civil construction activities that generate dust will be banned.
• There will be an exemption for essential public infrastructure projects.
• Finishing work, plumbing and electrical installations inside construction sites will continue to be permitted, subject to dust-control norms.

December 10 to January 20:

• During this stringent window, the notification states that only government projects deemed indispensable for public utility or emergencies will be allowed to continue.
• Vehicles carrying construction material will be barred from entering Delhi.