Gurgaon: Dust pollution goes unchecked, residents suffer

Construction sites are not covered by green plastic sheets and even the contractor does not do anything to ensure loose dust doesn’t fly around

City residents have accused the Gurgaon district administration of not doing enough to control dust pollution.

Ongoing construction work at key locations has left the residents worried about dust pollution. (Parveen Kumar/HT)

There are four major locations on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway which are dug up for the past several weeks and mounds of earth are lying unattended. They are neither covered with green plastic sheets and nor do the contractor deployed to oversee the digging work do the needful to ensure there’s no loose dust in the air abetting pollution.

“This is gross violation of guidelines laid down by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The administration is not serious about the issue and even the contractor is least bothered about implementing the NGT guidelines. Air pollution in terms of PM 2.5 per cubic gram in Gurgaon is five times higher than the permissible limit. The administration is playing with our health. I will soon file a contempt petition on the issue at NGT,” Vivek Kamboj, an environmentalist, said.

The PM 2.5 in Gurgaon was recorded at 230 per cubic metre on Monday.

“Breathing difficulties is a rising concern in Gurgaon. I am victim of it as I have been battling asthma over the last ten years. I have been advised by my doctor to limit my exposure to dust as much as possible,” said Yashpal, a resident Sushant Lok.

Lokesh Abrol, a doctor and resident Sector 15, 2, said, “Patients with breathing complaints are a serious concern these days due to their exposure to the polluted air. The administration should ensure regular sprinkling of water on earth mounds, especially where construction work is underway, so that dust settles down and do not fly in wind.”

Read I Gurgaon construction sites to be monitored for dust pollution

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Haryana urban development authority (Huda) and the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) are mostly in charge of construction activities in these areas.

The Haryana state pollution control board (HSPCB) is the nodal authority to ensure that the NGT guidelines are followed.

JB Sharma, regional officer, HSPCB, said, “I have asked inspectors to inspect all these sites and submit a report. We will take action accordingly.”