Gurugram MCG deploys night teams for GRAP pollution checks

Night inspection teams began work across Gurugram’s MCG zones on Monday to respond to complaints of open waste burning, extinguish fires and issue challans.

Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya has directed joint commissioners, engineers, sanitation inspectors and other designated staff to enforce Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) measures. The directions cover biomass and municipal-waste burning, illegal dumping, dust pollution, and fires at landfills and dumpsites. Officials have also been told to levy the maximum environmental compensation for open burning where applicable.

Under Stage 1, applicable when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is in the 201-300 ‘poor’ range, MCG must ensure regular removal of municipal, construction-and-demolition, industrial and hazardous waste from dumping sites and industrial areas. Construction material must be stored and transported under cover, while sites face checks on sprinkling, anti-smog guns and waste-management requirements.

At Stage 2, applicable for an AQI of 301-400, identified roads are to be vacuum- or mechanically swept daily, preferably overnight or early in the morning. Staff must spray water and dust suppressants before peak traffic.

The executive engineer at MCG headquarters will collect compliance reports. Measures from earlier GRAP stages will continue when a higher stage is in force.