Beta 1 residents flag dust during Greater Noida road sweeping

Clouds of dust rose from a road-sweeping machine on Sector Beta 1’s 60-metre-wide road on Saturday morning, residents said, prompting the local RWA to seek changes to the cleaning exercise.

Harender Bhati, general secretary of the Sector Beta 1 Residents Welfare Association, said the machines visit the sector once every three to four days and are old and ineffective. Instead of collecting dust, he said, they appeared to blow it back into the air.

The RWA has asked the Greater Noida Authority to direct its health department and contractor to prevent dust emissions during sweeping. It suggested water sprinkling where needed and scientific cleaning methods that keep dust from going airborne.

Greater Noida’s average AQI was 281 on Saturday, in the poor category. Noida recorded 297, also poor, while Delhi logged 369, in the very poor category.

Rajesh Gautam, senior manager (health) at the Authority, said mechanical sweepers remain important for cleanliness and that officials would look into preventing excessive dust generation.