In a significant crackdown on pollution sources, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has pulled up the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) for severe lapses in maintaining city roads. The action came after a sweeping inspection drive uncovered high levels of dust, illegal waste dumping, and instances of open burning across numerous stretches.
Operation Clean Air: Key Findings from the Inspection
The pollution watchdog for Delhi-NCR conducted the special drive, dubbed 'Operation Clean Air', on Friday. A total of 17 inspection teams were deployed to scrutinize 125 roads maintained by the MCG. These teams, comprising 15 from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) and two from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), collected geo-tagged and time-stamped photographs as evidence of violations.
The findings were alarming. The CAQM stated that out of the 125 roads examined, 34 showed high visible dust levels. Another 58 had moderate dust accumulation, while 29 recorded low dust intensity. Only four roads were found with no visible dust, highlighting a widespread issue.
Beyond Dust: Waste Dumping and Open Burning
The problems were not limited to just dust. The inspection report pointed to a combination of civic failures. Many stretches with high dust were also plagued by substantial piles of municipal solid waste (MSW) and construction and demolition (C&D) waste. Compounding the issue were several observed cases of open burning.
In its statement, the CAQM directly criticized the MCG, noting that these violations "point to clear gaps in routine maintenance, waste collection, and field-level enforcement by the civic body." The affected areas spanned residential colonies, internal roads, and major arterial stretches across various wards and sectors of Gurgaon.
CAQM's Directives and MCG's Response
Based on the evidence, the Commission has stressed the urgent necessity for MCG to bolster its ground-level operations and supervision. Key remedial recommendations issued include:
- Enhancing regular mechanical sweeping of roads.
- Ensuring prompt removal and scientific disposal of collected dust and waste.
- Implementing active water sprinkling and other dust-suppression techniques.
- Enforcing strict curbs and penalties on open burning activities.
When contacted, MCG Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya stated that action has already been initiated in response to the CAQM's findings. He referenced a previous inspection where issues on 17 stretches were identified and promptly resolved. Dahiya emphasized proactive coordination, noting, "We are proactively working with other agencies… With GMDA, we hold coordination meetings regarding this every Wednesday."
Enforcement Actions and Mitigation Measures
According to official data shared by the MCG, enforcement of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) norms has led to fines. Between December 15 and 23, the corporation slapped fines worth Rs 14.10 lakh on 274 violators. The breakdown includes:
- 170 penalties (Rs 75,000) for not using dustbins.
- 28 fines (Rs 1.4 lakh) for burning waste.
- 10 violations (Rs 2.6 lakh) for improper C&D waste disposal.
- 3 cases (Rs 75,000) for dust-generating activities.
To control dust, civic officials stated that MCG is operating 18 mechanized road-sweeping machines during the night. Additionally, 10 truck-mounted anti-smog guns and sprinklers are spraying treated water daily on major roads. Water tankers are also being deployed regularly for dust suppression.
In a related enforcement action, the Gurugram Traffic Police issued 1,081 challans between December 14 and 21 for violations of GRAP-IV stage restrictions, indicating a multi-agency effort to tackle the city's pollution crisis.
