Air quality in Delhi-NCR deteriorates as construction sites ignore GRAP-3 restrictions, resulting in poor air quality and dust pollution.
Despite the implementation of stage 3 restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) aimed at improving air quality, many construction sites in Gurgaon are carrying on with their activities without adhering to the regulations. The GRAP-3 protocol requires a halt in all construction work, except for select public infrastructure and defense projects, in order to mitigate air pollution.
On Thursday, it was observed that workers at various construction sites in Gurgaon were seen working without masks, layering bricks, mixing cement, and hammering plants in the construction of residential and commercial buildings. Areas such as Udyog Vihar, Sushant Lok, Mahavir Vihar, and sectors 28 and 44 were left enveloped in dust, as mandatory measures like insulation with green sheets, sprinkling of water, and covering construction material-carrying trucks were blatantly overlooked. The visible consequences of this negligence included dust-covered buildings, trees, roads, and cars.
One construction worker in Udyog Vihar-3 claimed to be unaware of the ban, stating that no official orders had been received. He mentioned that although his contractor had provided masks to the workers last year, they were now in unusable condition. Despite being aware of dust control measures, he acknowledged the difficulty in consistently following the established norms.
Trucks carrying construction material were also observed flouting the rule of having their cargo covered while entering and exiting the construction sites. Additional violations included dumping construction waste along roadways and workers grinding stones in open spaces in Sushant Lok-1 and Sector 28.
Local residents living near these construction sites expressed their frustration over the perpetual dust pollution they have to endure. Madan Yadav, a Sushant Lok-1 resident, criticized the lack of concern for residents’ health, adding that civic officials rarely visit the sector to ensure compliance with GRAP orders. Jai Prakash, a resident of Sector 28, pointed out that construction work continues late into the night in violation of regulations. He further highlighted the absence of measures such as using sheets to control dust dispersion during construction activities.
The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is enforced by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to combat hazardous air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR. Civic authorities and state pollution boards are responsible for monitoring and penalizing violations of GRAP norms.
The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) in Gurgaon was recorded as poor (219) on Thursday and worsened to 267 on Friday. The Teri Gram and Sector 51 monitoring stations reported the highest pollution levels, covering residential and commercial hubs like Golf Course Extension.
The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) officials have been issuing fines, primarily targeting construction sites larger than 20,000sqm. Smaller sites are monitored by the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG). HSPCB Regional Officer Vijay Chaudhary confirmed that instructions have been given to civic agencies to sprinkle water on roads to mitigate dust pollution. The MCG has been conducting random inspections and issuing challans for GRAP violations. Between October 1 and December 27, both the pollution board and the MCG have issued 47 challans amounting to fines worth Rs 6.3 lakh for violating the construction ban.
Last year, Haryana introduced an online portal for real-time monitoring of pollution levels; however, only 344 out of an estimated 2,500 large construction and demolition sites have registered on the platform. Furthermore, only 51 registered sites provide pollution level data and have video cameras installed.
It is essential for construction sites to adhere to GRAP regulations to safeguard public health and maintain acceptable air quality levels in Delhi-NCR. Stringent enforcement, increased awareness among workers, and the responsible actions of contractors and project managers are vital in tackling the pressing issue of dust pollution.
