HSPCB DEMANDS ACTION REPORT IN FOUR DAYS

GURGAON: Nothing wakes up state agencies like an emergency, and so it was on Tuesday when the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) told all departments and authorities concerned to submit within four days a report on action taken.

“On Tuesday, we asked all civic bodies to submit within four days what action they have taken so far to combat air pollution in the city. Once we receive the plan, we will review it and further action plan will be framed out of it,” JB Sharma, regional officer, HSPCB, said.

City’s air quality has been deteriorating since Diwali. On October 11, the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) had asked all stakeholders to implement a graded response action plan (GRAP) in all districts of NCR to combat air pollution.

On October 31, again, the HSPCB had told the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG), Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), resident welfare associations (RWAS), traffic police to submit the details of action taken by the authorities.

The MCG and NHAI sprinkled water at on-going road project sites and covered them with cloth to keep construction dust from flying. The civic body and state pollution control board also formed teams that checked garbage burning in neighbourhoods, and clamped down on polluting industries and factories. The air quality index recorded by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) jumped to 368 on Tuesday against 331 on Monday.