Gurugram Tightens Restrictions Amid GRAP-4, Fine Of Rs 25 Lakh For Violators

The health official urged all the residents to track air quality daily using their mobile applications, limit outdoor activities amid high pollution hours, and make use of protective measures.

Commuters amid low visibility due to smog, in Gurugram, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024.

Source : PTI

In order to curb the pollution, officials in Gurugram and other NCR regions have been instructed to impose fines of up to Rs 25 lakh and halt any construction activities found violating regulations. Haryana Chief Secretary Vivek Joshi chaired a meeting on Wednesday, directing officials to take strict action against polluting construction activities under GRAP Stage IV.

Joshi urged officials to form teams and act swiftly against violations, citing a surge in complaints from multiple sources. He also emphasised the need to intensify preventive measures like deploying anti-smog guns, water sprinklers, and mechanised road sweepers.

According to a report by HT, agencies such as the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram, Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority, Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran, Department of Town and Country Planning, Haryana State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation, and the Haryana State Pollution Control Board were tasked with conducting thorough inspections across the city.

HSPCB regional officer (south Gurugram), Vijay Choudhary, said, “All these officials have been asked to impose fines immediately on the spot and shut down any ongoing construction violating norms."

Authorities clarified that while all agencies can inspect construction sites of up to 828 square meters (1,000 square yards), the HSPCB holds exclusive authority to penalise projects with a proposed built-up area of 20,000 square meters or more.

Choudhary noted that the directives were issued after residents complaints about ongoing construction in Gurugram despite the imposed ban. The Haryana Transport Department has also been instructed to reroute commercial vehicles not bound for Gurugram or Delhi via the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway or other alternate routes to curb vehicular pollution in the city.

Gurugram's Health Department Launches Pollution Awareness Campaigns

Apart from this, Gurugram’s health department has rolled out awareness campaigns to safeguard residents from pollution-related illnesses as the city’s air quality index (AQI) improved to a “very poor” 374 on Wednesday, down from Tuesday’s “severe” 402 and Monday’s 469, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

The health official urged all the residents to track air quality daily using their mobile applications, limit outdoor activities amid high pollution hours, and make use of protective measures such as masks, air purifiers, and humidifiers.

The department is promoting eco-friendly practices, including cleaner cooking and heating fuels, reducing the use of diesel generators, and encouraging public transport to curb pollution. “We aim to empower people with the right knowledge to protect themselves during these critical times,” Hindustan Times quoted Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer of Gurugram as saying. 

Additionally, the medical superintendent of Civil Hospital in Sector 10, Manish Rathee stated, “We are prioritising outreach in areas where residents lack access to such information. The guidelines are simple yet effective in preventing health problems caused by air pollution.”