The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has imposed total fines of ₹14.10 lakh on 274 violators over the past week, said officials on Tuesday, adding that the action was taken under the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) to curb air pollution.
MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya said controlling air pollution is among the civic body’s top priorities. “All Grap directions are being implemented strictly.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
According to data released by the civic body on Tuesday, penalties were imposed across a range of pollution-causing activities. At least ₹75,000 was imposed on 170 individuals and contractors for not using dustbins, while 28 incidents of garbage burning from different areas led to penalties amounting to ₹1.40 lakh. The MCG also penalised 10 contractors linked to construction and demolition (C&D) activities, levying ₹2.60 lakh, and ₹75,000 was imposed on individuals in three cases of dust-emitting activities.
Further, nine cases of open littering resulted in fines of ₹45,000, while 51 cases of construction work continuing despite restrictions drew the highest penalty of ₹7.90 lakh. Three instances of uncovered construction material were also fined amounting to ₹15,000, officials said.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
{{^usCountry}}
According to MCG officials, directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) amid poor air quality are being strictly implemented across the region.
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
According to MCG officials, directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) amid poor air quality are being strictly implemented across the region.
{{/usCountry}}
MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya said controlling air pollution is among the civic body’s top priorities. “All Grap directions are being implemented strictly. Enforcement against violators will continue with the same intensity,” he said, adding that residents and establishments should avoid garbage burning and comply with pollution-control norms.
Officials said, mechanised road sweeping is being carried out on major arterial roads of the city using 18 machines, primarily during night hours to avoid traffic disruption and to minimise dust emission during the day. Officials said this has helped reduce particulate matter generated by vehicular movement.
The corporation has deployed 10 truck-mounted sprinklers equipped with anti-smog guns, which are spraying treated water across different parts of the city daily.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
