Flying squads to check burning of stubble, garbage in Rohtak

Rohtak Deputy Commissioner Dhirendra Khadgata has directed the officials concerned to strictly comply with the instructions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in view of the increasing levels of pollution.

“Three-tier monitoring committees should be formed to monitor the burning of stubble and garbage in rural as well as urban areas. Flying squads should also be constituted to investigate and check such incidents,” the Deputy Commissioner said, adding that strict action would be taken against officials found negligent.

Presiding over a review meeting at the local mini-secretariat, Khadgata said the departments should register the details of the buildings under construction on more than 500 square yards of land in the urban areas on the government portal.

“All relevant instructions should be followed while demolishing the dilapidated buildings and constructing new ones. The debris should be dumped at designated places. While constructing buildings on private land, it should be ensured that the environment is not polluted,” he said.

The heads of the government departments were told to ask the contractors to ensure that debris is not left in the open after demolishing a building.

“If any such instance is detected, a fine will be imposed on the department concerned, which will be recovered from the contractor,” said the deputy commissioner.

Khadgata asked the DSP concerned to ensure that over 10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in the district are seized at the earliest.

He said water should be sprinkled on the roads as per the guidelines issued by the authorities concerned, but fresh water should not be used for the purpose. Water purified by STP should be used for sprinkling on the roads, he added.

“The officers should also ensure that dirty water is not poured into drains and canals by any vehicle. If any vehicle is found doing so, then the vehicle should be confiscated and a fine imposed on its owner,” he said.

The Deputy Commissioner said the local municipal authorities should fix the responsibilities of the employees/officers at three levels to monitor the incidents of burning of garbage etc in the urban areas.

He also directed the District Revenue Officer and Block Development and Panchayat Officer to deploy patwaris and panchayat secretaries in every village to monitor the burning of paddy straw.

He instructed Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) officials to ensure compliance with NGT directions by the operators of the industrial units in the district.