New Ggn Divisional Commissioner says pollution major challenge
GURUGRAM: The new Divisional Commissioner of Gurugram, Hardeep Singh has said that tackling high levels of pollution and management of vehicular traffic in the city are some of the major challenges in Gurugram.
Speaking to Millennium Post, Singh acknowledged that the levels of pollution in Gurugram are way beyond unhealthy and is of matter of concern to him and his team.
After a slight improvement in the air quality of Gurugram due to the recent rainfall, air quality levels in the city have again dipped to extremely unhealthy levels.
On Tuesday, the particulate matters of 2.5 microns was recorded between 150–200 units, way beyond its safe limits of 60 micrograms per cubic metre. The city also recorded high levels of poisonous concentrations like sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.
Citing the dangerous effects of PM 2.5, medical experts have warned that long exposure to air containing high levels of PM 2.5 can cause lung impairment and other respiratory complications.
Hardeep Singh, who assumed the role of DC on January 18, attributed high pollution levels to the increase in the levels of vehicular traffic in the city.
The DC also suggested in rationing of vehicular traffic in the city.
However, Singh highlighted that for better management of traffic and reducing severe pollution levels, the role of citizen participation was as important as political will and effective executive functioning in ensuring preventive measures.
Singh also provided his views on Bandhwari landfill site.
Nestled in the Aravallis, Bandhwari landfill site is facing the problem of massive piling up of garbage from Gurugram as well as Faridabad.
Acknowledging that piling up of garbage at the Bandhwari is also adding to the pollution levels in the city, Singh highlighted that they will carry out discussions with various community groups in the city for recycling of the waste.
However, Singh maintained that in the past, most of the community groups have not cooperated in the process of recycling the garbage.
“Tackling high levels of pollution in Gurugram will be one of the major challenges to be faced by me and my team. Gurugram has an unhealthy air and it is affecting the citizens in one way or another. In my view, one of the major causes of air pollution in the city is increase in vehicular traffic. I will want Gurugram to adopt the Singapore model of rationing traffic but it will require immense public participation in addition to the effective executive functioning and political will,” said Hardeep Singh.
“Besides the issue of air pollution and traffic congestion, we will also like to improve the situation of depleting groundwater levels in Gurugram,” Singh said.