Adopt Delhi model to curb pollution, HSPCB told
TNN | Feb 26, 2019, 07:35 IST
GURUGRAM: The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has once again come down heavily on the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) for failing to implement anti-pollution measures effectively in Gurugram.
The authority had lambasted the state pollution body on February 21 over its failure in taking adequate steps to curb air pollution in the city.
The EPCA, in a meeting held on Monday, directed the pollution board and civic authorities — Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) — to replicate the Delhi model while executing anti-pollution measures and take action according to the plan prepared by the civic authorities in the capital.
“So far, we don’t see any required action being implemented in the city to combat pollution in Gurugram. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has enforced the action plan in a better way. Therefore, the HSPCB have to monitor the situation and make sure the civic authorities work on a dedicated and efficient action plan,” said sources in EPCA.
EPCA officials had last week raised concerns over “false claims” of the state pollution control board in reports and “unusually low” pollution data recorded by air monitors in the city.
A team of the EPCA had visited the city for inspection and noticed several violations such as open burning of garbage along highways, uncovered construction sites and transportation of construction material in open trucks.
“So far, whatever reports we have received from the state pollution control board claim that water sprinkling is being done regularly and all measures to combat air pollution are in place. Also, the levels of pollution are recorded unusually low in the city. It is quite unbelievable as violations have been observed by the team,” said an EPCA official last week.
TOI recently conducted a reality check on six major stretches in the city — Golf Course Road, NH8, Golf Course Road Extension, MG Road, Sohna Road, and Old Delhi-Gurugram Road — and found 14 spots where violations of construction norms of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change go on unabated.
A senior official of HSPCB told TOI, “We will definitely make sure that the action plan is in place. We will ensure that all norms are followed.”
The HSPCB had recently sent a notice to the MCG over mismanagement of waste treatment plant at Bandhwari. In the notice, the corporation was directed to check illegal waste dumping in other places too, including Ghata village, near the catchment area of a lake.
The authority had lambasted the state pollution body on February 21 over its failure in taking adequate steps to curb air pollution in the city.
The EPCA, in a meeting held on Monday, directed the pollution board and civic authorities — Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) — to replicate the Delhi model while executing anti-pollution measures and take action according to the plan prepared by the civic authorities in the capital.
“So far, we don’t see any required action being implemented in the city to combat pollution in Gurugram. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has enforced the action plan in a better way. Therefore, the HSPCB have to monitor the situation and make sure the civic authorities work on a dedicated and efficient action plan,” said sources in EPCA.
EPCA officials had last week raised concerns over “false claims” of the state pollution control board in reports and “unusually low” pollution data recorded by air monitors in the city.
A team of the EPCA had visited the city for inspection and noticed several violations such as open burning of garbage along highways, uncovered construction sites and transportation of construction material in open trucks.
“So far, whatever reports we have received from the state pollution control board claim that water sprinkling is being done regularly and all measures to combat air pollution are in place. Also, the levels of pollution are recorded unusually low in the city. It is quite unbelievable as violations have been observed by the team,” said an EPCA official last week.
TOI recently conducted a reality check on six major stretches in the city — Golf Course Road, NH8, Golf Course Road Extension, MG Road, Sohna Road, and Old Delhi-Gurugram Road — and found 14 spots where violations of construction norms of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change go on unabated.
A senior official of HSPCB told TOI, “We will definitely make sure that the action plan is in place. We will ensure that all norms are followed.”
The HSPCB had recently sent a notice to the MCG over mismanagement of waste treatment plant at Bandhwari. In the notice, the corporation was directed to check illegal waste dumping in other places too, including Ghata village, near the catchment area of a lake.
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