Despite NGT order, dust flies unchecked in Noida, Ggn
NOIDA/GURGAON: Realtors on Saturday were found defying the National Green Tribunal’s recent order on curbing dust pollution even as top officials of the state were busy with inauguration of projects in Lucknow and Greater Noida by UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.
Hindustan Times did a reality check in Greater Noida West (Noida Extension) and a few parts of Noida, where nearly 200 realty projects are being built. The situation on the ground has remained unchanged and no precautionary measures were noticed during construction despite the tribunal’s order.
Construction machines were ferrying material at a speed much higher than 20 kilometres per hour (as per guidelines the speed should be 20 kmph) without putting any sheets to prevent the dust from polluting the air. Dumpers carrying sand in Noida Extension were seen speeding and creating a thick haze of dust.
“We have not seen any realtor who has developed a green belt around his/her project to mitigate dust and sound pollution that occurs due to construction. Realtors do not care about implementing the ministry of environment and forests (MOEF)-2010 guidelines because officials do not act against them,” said Neeraj Acharya, a social activist.
In Gurgaon too, nothing much seems to have changed and residents continue to suffer from dust emanating due to disposal of construction and demolition waste.
“Many areas in the city are still getting developed and there are continuous constructions, leading to problems of dust and pollution. People are falling sick and many children have been prescribed nebulisers,” said Amina Sherwani, an environmental activist who lives in Gurgaon.
While the NGT on Friday asked the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) to take charge and stop construction projects that are not complying with orders, officials were yet to receive the order.
In the order, the tribunal said that every builder should put a tarpaulin or scaffolding around the area of construction. Also, no person will be permitted to store any construction material, particularly sand, on the street or roads in any colony.
However, the practice is a common sight in Gurgaon. Apart from the building material, construction and disposal wastes are found dumped on empty plots and green belts in the Aravalli region.