AQI of B’garh worsens, Market Committee fined Rs 10 lakh

The air quality index (AQI) of Bahadurgarh industrial town here again crossed 400-mark on ​Thursday causing respiratory issues, irritation in eyes, cough and pain in throat among local people. A considerable number of patients suffering from such health issues are reaching government and private hospitals daily.

Action taken by DC Pradeep Dahiya after reviewing situation in district in view of GRAP stage-IV

Taking a serious note of it,​Regional Office of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh on the Market Committee, Bahadurgarh, after its team found burning and dumping of biomass municipal solid waste in the Sabji Mandi area.

A show-cause notice in this respect has been issued to the secretary-cum-executive officer, Market Committee, Bahadurgarh. He has been directed to deposit environmental compensation and submit compliance-cum-action taken report. The secretary has also been asked to submit why prosecution action should not be initiated.

​Meanwhile, the district administration has also formed eight different teams of officials from various departments to monitor the compliance of the instructions issued under the graded response action plan (GRAP) to check further deterioration of air quality in the area.

The action was taken by Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya after reviewing the prevailing situation in the district in view of the GRAP stage-IV that came into being in the National Capital Region (NCR) three days ago.

“Officials of the HSIIDC, HSPCB, local bodies, HSVP and Public Health Engineering Department are part of such teams. They have been asked to remain in their respective area round-the-clock to implement the GRAP instructions in true letter and spirit.

As per the orders issued by the DC, the SDM will monitor the overall working of these teams in their areas concerned and set up additional teams as per the requirement. The teams will provide an action-taken report along with photographs and details of penalties imposed to the Regional Officer, HSPCB on a regular basis. In case any violation is found and ignored (if any) by the teams at any stage, strict action will be taken against the responsible officers.

“The teams have been constituted for monitoring and implementation of the action pertaining to their departments, envisaged under various stages of GRAP in compliance of the orders of the commission for air quality management (CAQM) issued from time to time during whole GRAP time period,” said Dahiya.

Shakti Singh, Regional Officer, HSPCB, said a close tabs were being kept on vulnerable areas across the district to ensure proper compliances of the GRAP instructions.

"We are persistently taking strict action against those found violating the GRAP instructions. Recently, a total environmental penalty of Rs 70.22 lakh has been imposed on owners of industrial units, government agencies and others for not complying with the instructions. A majority of the violations belong to Bahadurgarh areas and the HSIIDC and the National Highways Authority of India are also among the violators," Shakti added.