Faridabad civic admn begins drive to enforce anti-pollution measures

With AQI (Air Quality Index) slipping to ‘poor’ category, the civic authorities have announced to enforce certain measures to contain air pollution in the city in the wake of the imposition of phase 1 of the Graded Action Response Plan(GRAP) in the NCR.

The air quality is likely to worsen further in the wake of factors like the drop in day and night temperatures, dry weather conditions, farm fires, poor disposal of garbage (waste), activities associated with the construction and generation of dust on the roads. There are many bottlenecks in infrastructure and measures related to STPs and Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) and cleanliness. “The authorities have resorted to various measures to keep a tab on the problem associated with the rise in pollution,” reveal sources in the district administration. The average PM 2.5 (particulate matter of 2.5 micrograms per cubic meter hanging in the air) in the city has been recorded over 200 points in the past one week. Though it was at the level of 214 in Sector 11, it touched 327 in Sector 30 here, at 9 am this morning. It is categorised ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ as per CPCB norms.

Officers asked to intensify vigil

• Joint commissioners of all three zones have been asked to intensify vigil on activities like improper dumping or disposal of waste (including construction and demolition material), burning of garbage or waste in the open and ?

  all the activities that could raise pollution.\

• Machinery and equipment like anti-smog guns, mechanised (automated) sweeping and water sprinklers have been activated at the ground level.
• Officials have been directed to issue challans against violations on daily basis, besides sensitisation of officials of various departments.

“The Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) has unleashed a drive for the implementation of measures directed by the authorities like CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) during the GRAP period which comes into effect from October 1,’’ said a senior official of the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF).

He said joint commissioners of all three zones had been asked to intensify vigil on activities like improper dumping or disposal of waste (including construction and demolition material), burning of garbage in the open and all the activities that could raise pollution. Machinery and equipment like anti-smog guns, mechanised (automated) sweeping and water sprinklers have been activated. Officials have been directed to issue challans against violations on daily basis, besides sensitisation of officials of various departments on the issue. Though the MCF has around six mechanised sweeping machines, seven anti-smog guns and 36 water sprinklers at its disposal at present, the authorities have been asked to procure additional equipment to deal with the issue, said an official. Dr Gaurav Antil, Additional Commissioner, MCF said that while a drive had already been on as per directions of CAQM, the department may go in for procuring more equipment and machinery. Strict action will be taken as per the norms against violations, he said.