NCR breathes hard, 14 dists on high alert

As the National Capital Region (NCR) continues to battle probably the worst airpocalypse in the past four years, 14 districts have been put on high alert. With the Supreme Court taking a serious view of the authorities’ failure to implement the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP) in Delhi, the NCR districts have formed special teams to ensure compliance with stage 4 of the plan.

The teams will man around 25,000 sq km in Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh, Rohtak, Sonepat, Rewari, Jhajjar, Panipat, Palwal, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Mahendergarh, Jind and Karnal.

The districts recorded real-time AQI between 400 and 1,000 in many areas even as AQI meters in many districts had much lower readings.

Notices to builders

• 25 builders in Gurugram, Faridabad issued warning notices, asked to stall work and comply with GRAP-4\
• Raid conducted at DLF Summit, Sector 54, Gurugram; power supply to project snapped as construction work was on at night

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Delhi-NCR states to immediately establish teams to ensure the implementation of GRAP curbs. These Haryana districts have been recording average air quality “severe” for two days and many parts of Gurugram and Faridabad reported an AQI of over 700 in the wee hours of Monday.

Speaking to The Tribune, P Raghavendra Rao, Chairman, Haryana Pollution Control Board, said, “We already had enforcement squads here, but now they will dedicatedly work for the implementation of GRAP-4. The defaulters will not be spared. We have written to the DCs concerned to ensure compliance.”

Vehicular emissions and unchecked construction are being cited as the key reasons for the crisis in Gurugram and Faridabad. Though the state has done well in dealing with farm fires, it has been found wanting in ensuring compliance with GRAP directives, especially in Faridabad and Gurugram.

Sources said in the past two days, around 800 complaints had been received from both districts regarding construction activities, which had been banned under GRAP. They have alleged that builders keep their operations shut for a few hours during the day, but get active at night. JCBs are being operated and the Gurugram officials are resorting to snapping the power supply to all construction projects in a bid ensure compliance. “We have zero tolerance to non-compliance. Strict action will be taken against the defaulters,” said Gurugram DC Ajay Kumar.