Bahadurgarh’s air quality ‘poor’; 20 hotspots identified
With the air quality index (AQI) of Bahadurgarh town crossing 200 here, the local office of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has become active in dealing with the situation by executing instructions issued under Stage-1 of the revised graded response action plan (GRAP) for improving the air quality.
The HSPCB has identified around 20 hotspots pertaining to air emissions in the Bahadurgarh area, located on the border of Delhi and Haryana. The authorities have divided these areas into three categories. Under the first category of Industrial air emission, Modern Industrial Estate Part-A and Part-B, Old Industrial area, Ganpati Dham Industrial area, HSIIDC Sectors 16, 17 and 4B have been included.
The Delhi-Bahadurgarh Tikri Border, MIE Rohtak bypass, bus stand Chowk, Jhajjar Road, Railway Road, Nahara-Nahari Road, Ballaur Chowk, Naya Gaon Chowk, Rohad Toll Plaza and Sector 2/6 dividing road are the part of the vehicular air emission/ traffic congestion category. Similarly, Bahadurgarh bypass Road, Beri Road, Badli Road and Mini-Secretariat Road are under the heavy dust emitting zone.
Amit Dahiya, SDO, HSPCB, Bahadurgarh, said special focus would be on these hotspot areas to protect air quality from deteriorating in the coming days. Departments concerned had also been asked to ensure execution of the instructions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and the adjoining areas under Stage 1 of the GRAP. As per the instructions, the authorities will ensure regular lifting of municipal solid waste (MSW), construction and demolition (C&D) waste, and hazardous wastes from dedicated dump sites besides making sure that no waste is dumped illegally in open land areas.
“The C&D materials and waste are properly stored/ contained, duly covered on the premises and it should be transported through covered vehicles. Strict vigil should be ensured that there are no burning incidents in the landfill sites/ dumpsites. Environmental compensation should be imposed on those violating instructions pertaining to burning of biomass and municipal solid waste,” states the instructions.
The authorities have been asked to strictly enforce all pollution control regulations in industries, brick-kilns and hot mix plants etc besides strict compliance of the prescribed standards of emissions.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Shakti Singh in compliance with the suggestions of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board and the instructions received from the government, has imposed a ban on the manufacture, sale, bursting and use of all types of firecrackers except green crackers (chain crackers or lari) in the limits of Jhajjar for a period from October 22 to January 31, 2025.
He has also directed the officials concerned to take strict steps by identifying the factors causing pollution to prevent air pollution within the limits of Jhajjar district.
To protect AQI from deteriorating
Amit Dahiya, SDO, HSPCB, Bahadurgarh, said special focus would be on these hotspot areas to protect air quality from deteriorating in the coming days. Departments concerned had also been asked to ensure execution of the instructions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and the adjoining areas under Stage 1 of the GRAP.
