Construction work affected as air quality turns ‘very poor’ in Faridabad

With the air quality index (AQI) slipping into the ‘very poor’ category, the re-imposition of GRAP Stage IV has affected the construction and demolition activities in Faridabad city and district. Officials of the Municipal Corporation and pollution control department say they have intensified the drive to contain the problem.

According to data recorded by ‘Sameer’, the official app of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the PM 2.5 level (Particulate matter of 2.5 micrograms hanging in per sq cubic metre) has dropped to ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ categories in the majority of the areas of the city.

While the city, which has four monitoring stations, displayed the average AQI of 265 at 2 pm on Tuesday, the highest level of 375 was recorded in Sector 11, which is located in the heart of the city. The NIT Zone recorded an AQI level of 323, which falls into the ‘very poor’ category. No reading came up at the monitoring unit of Sector 16, though the fourth unit in Sector 30 displayed a level of around 97 at noon today. The monitoring station at Ballabhgarh recorded an AQI of 265.

As the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reintroduced GRAP Stage IV norms this morning in the NCR in wake of severe drop in the air quality, the construction and demolition activities on land plot sizes of 500 sq m or more had come to a halt, said an official of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) here.

He said the drive to ensure the implementation of the norms and guidelines had been intensified through various measures. This had also resulted in an immediate halt on the civil works related to the ongoing projects such as the construction of the elevated bridge in Ballabhgarh, Badkhal Lake revival work, renovation of the Nahar Singh International Cricket Stadium and the construction of roads.

The authorities have also been instructed to issue challans and impose Environmental Compensation (EC) against the usage of diesel gensets, which are banned during the imposition of GRAP.

According to sources, factors such as sharp drop in day and night temperatures, burning and improper disposal of garbage (waste), poor cleanliness, traffic movement, presence of dust on the roads and industrial activities lacking measures related to sewage treatment plants (STPs) and effluent treatment plants (ETP) could be blamed for the degradation of the air quality. Poor wind speed was also a reason for smog, said an official.

MCF Additional Commissioner Gaurav Antil said the officials had been asked to intensify the drive aimed at ensuring proper cleanliness and sprinkling of water on the roads and on trees to ensure proper implementation of the GRAP norms. Strict action would be taken in case of violation, he added.