Construction ban extended till Nov 2

In a meeting of the CPCB-led Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) taskforce, it has been decided that industries not using PNG in Delhi will remain closed till November 2

New Delhi Reacting to the plunging air quality, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has extended the ban on overnight construction activities and industries not using piped natural gas (PNG) in Delhi till November 2. The window of the ban on construction activities has also been stretched — from 6pm-10am, instead of 6pm-6am.

India Gate engulfed in dense smog. (HT photo/Amal KS)

In a meeting of the CPCB-led Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) taskforce, it was decided that industries not using PNG in Delhi will remain closed till November 2. The extension of the ban will also apply to coal-powered industries in the satellite towns of Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Sonepat and Bahadurgarh, with the exemption of power plants.

The CPCB conducted another meeting on Wednesday with the state pollution control committees and municipal bodies, in which agencies were ordered to step up action on the ground and resolve all pending pollution-related complaints within 24 hours.

Prashant Gargava, member-secretary, CPCB, said that the ban on overnight construction in the national Capital will also continue. In an earlier meeting, the CPCB had banned overnight construction from October 26 to October 30 as a pre-emptive measure.

“The air quality is in the ‘severe’ category since 5pm on Tuesday, and this is likely to continue until tomorrow (Thursday). But, we have been informed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) that the wind speed has improved and it is expected that by Friday (November 1), air quality index might improve to the ‘very poor’ category,” Gargava said.

He said that till Saturday, all construction activities that generate dust, hot-mix plants and stone crushers will not be allowed to operate between 6pm and 10am on November 2. This time, the restriction will not just be limited to Delhi, but will also be extended to the neighbouring cities.

“All implementing agencies have been directed to remain vigilant and intensify action for controlling the burning of waste, dust from construction and demolition activities, and road dust in the coming days. Road dust must be controlled with multiple rounds of water sprinkling and dust suppressants,” he said.

Industries not using PNG in Delhi will remain closed till November 2.

The extension of the ban will also apply to coal-powered industries in the satellite towns of Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Sonepat and Bahadurgarh, with the exemption of power plants.

The window of the ban on construction activities has also been stretched — from 6pm-10am, instead of 6pm-6am Until Saturday, all construction activities that generate dust, hot-mix plants and stone crusher units will not be allowed to operate between 6pm and 10am on November 2