In a targeted drive to combat hazardous air pollution, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) in Noida carried out inspections at 23 different locations across the city on Thursday. This action was a direct response to a directive issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
Widespread Inspection Across Key Areas
According to a UPPCB official, the inspection teams fanned out across multiple sectors and major roads. The areas covered included the stretch from Shashi Chowk to Nithari in Sectors 36-37, the vicinity of the Government Degree College in Sector 39, and the service lane outside the Cyber Police Station in Sector 36. Other critical points examined were the main road connecting Sectors 76 and 77, DSC Road, the area near Fortis Hospital, and the road running parallel to the Bhangel Elevated road.
Findings and Immediate On-Ground Action
The inspection revealed the presence of rough patches and accumulated dust at several of these sites, including the stretch beneath the Bhangel Elevated road. Officials documented these violations by taking photographs and submitted their feedback through an internal system for further action. Senior officials from the Noida Authority were also present on-site, actively directing sanitation workers to properly clean the roadside dust and mitigate the pollution sources.
The Trigger: CAQM's Directive and Previous Inspection
This fresh round of inspections was initiated after the CAQM, on Wednesday, directed the UPPCB Noida to conduct a new survey of dust-prone areas and submit a detailed report by January 12. The CAQM's order came in the wake of a media report that highlighted a discrepancy between Noida's severe pollution levels and the official identification of only four major dust hotspots.
Earlier in the week, on Monday, a CAQM team itself had inspected 12 key roads in the city. Their route included major stretches like MP-1 from Rajnigandha Chowk to Sectors 12 and 22, MP-2 from Film City to Sector 60, and MP-3 from Kalindi Kunj to City Centre, along with several internal roads in the 7x sectors and along the Noida Expressway. Interestingly, that preliminary report had noted low or no visible dust at most of the spots it checked, prompting the need for the more extensive UPPCB inspection.
