GURUGRAM: Air quality in the city has continued to worsen, largely due to construction dust from ongoing projects flouting GRAP-III restrictions that were instituted earlier today. In defiance of the ban, construction work is still taking place in areas such as Sector 28, Sushant Lok, Sector 53, and Sector 112.
According to the GRAP guidelines, civic authorities are tasked with enforcing rigorous site inspections, impounding visibly polluting vehicles, and implementing dust control measures at all construction and demolition (C&D) sites. The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) is also required to evaluate compliance and periodically shut down any non-compliant sites.
However, on-site oversight appears to be inadequate. Many sites lack green sheets or barricades; workers can be seen without dust masks, and trucks carrying debris are uncovered. C&D waste is being openly discarded along the roadside, and fine dust has settled on everything from vehicles to trees.
Trucks are departing construction sites without washing their wheels, further dispersing dust onto city roads. Smaller projects, often not within HSPCB’s immediate oversight, continue without checks.
Karan Chowdhary, a resident of Sushant Lok-1, expressed frustration: “The entire lane is covered in dust all year round. There seems to be little regard for residents’ health. Civic bodies are not monitoring whether construction activities are ongoing or halted.”
Sunil Yadav, a Sector 53 resident, highlighted that the issue persists even during the night. “Construction work in residential areas continues after dark, which is against the rules. The sites are devoid of any covers that can contain dust,” he remarked.
Krishan Kumar, regional officer of HSPCB, noted that they have taken action against larger sites exceeding 20,000 sq meters. “Smaller sites fall under the jurisdiction of the MCG. We have instructed civic agencies to sprinkle water on roads to help manage road dust,” he stated.
Residents contend that the water sprinkling efforts are inconsistent and ineffective. With air quality now officially categorized as ‘severe’ and visibility worsening, the gap between policy and enforcement has become increasingly apparent.
As the region enters emergency pollution control mode, construction dust remains a significant and unregulated pollutant. Unless this issue is addressed, the recurring smog crisis in NCR is likely to persist.
