Despite issuing thousands of challans for activities that contribute to air pollution, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has recovered only a small share of the penalties imposed, with its own records showing a wide gap between fines levied and money collected. The enforcement shortfall is particularly significant as Delhi enters the period when construction dust, waste burning and unfavourable weather conditions can combine to worsen air quality.
MCD records for 2024 and 2025 show that the number of challans against construction sites rose, but collections remained a fraction of the total penalties. In 2024, the civic body issued around 2,600 challans against construction sites for violations and imposed fines totalling about Rs 5.3 crore. Only around Rs 45 lakh was recovered.
