Gurgaon: With the pollution season approaching, MCG has directed officials to begin stage-wise enforcement under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), warning against laxity in curbing open waste burning, illegal dumping and dust pollution. The civic body has directed joint commissioners, chief engineers, executive engineers, sanitation inspectors and other designated officials to ensure compliance across the city.In an order issued on Monday, MCG commissioner Pradeep Dahiya directed officials to strictly enforce the ban on burning biomass and municipal solid waste and impose maximum environmental compensation for violations, in accordance with relevant National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders. Officials have also been told to maintain strict vigilance at landfills and dumpsites to prevent fires.Under the plan, once the AQI enters the ‘poor’ category (201-300) and GRAP stage 1 is triggered, officials must ensure regular lifting of municipal solid waste, construction and demolition (C&D) waste, and industrial and hazardous waste from dumping sites and industrial areas, while preventing illegal dumping on open land.Construction sites will face tighter scrutiny, with requirements for proper storage and covering of C&D materials, transportation in covered vehicles, and the use of anti-smog guns and water sprinklers at the sites. Officials have been told to ensure proper environmental management of construction waste and enforce applicable registration and other prescribed requirements at larger construction and demolition projects.Under stage 2, when the AQI enters the ‘very poor’ category of 301-400, joint commissioners, executive engineers and senior sanitary inspectors have been directed to ensure daily mechanised or vacuum sweeping of identified roads, preferably at night or during early morning hours. The order calls for additional shifts and longer operating hours for sweeping machines, proper disposal of collected dust, and daily water sprinkling with dust suppressants before peak traffic hours, particularly along busy corridors and at congestion points.Officials must also intensify pollution-control measures at identified hotspots, step up inspections at construction and demolition sites, and increase the use of anti-smog guns and dust suppression during road construction, widening, repairs and maintenance.The order states that MCG’s executive engineer (headquarters) will serve as the nodal officer for collecting compliance reports. Measures prescribed under earlier stages of GRAP must continue when a higher stage is invoked, with the restrictions under each subsequent stage being implemented in addition to those already in force, the order stated.Separately, in response to complaints of open waste burning ahead of the GRAP period and the pollution season, MCG on Monday deployed dedicated teams for night-time inspections across its zones. The teams have been directed to respond promptly to complaints of open waste burning, stop and extinguish fires, issue challans to those responsible, maintain records of enforcement action and submit compliance reports to the respective authorities.
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