Faridabad air turns severe; 21 FIRs filed

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, November 2

The district authorities have registered 21 FIRs in the first two days after the announcement of the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for the violation of norms to contain the degradation of air quality in NCR.

For the past 10 days, the fine particulate matter (PM-2.5) parameter of the city’s air is hanging around 400. This comes under the severe category.

Revealing that the FIRs have been lodged against 21 individuals or companies for violating the norms in the past two days, Mohammed Shayin, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF), said that those booked were found carrying on with construction activity currently banned under the GRAP implemented from November 1.

He said challans have also been issued against several dealers of construction material who were engaged in the activity banned under the plan. “We have deputed teams of officials to conduct patrolling in the city to detect violations and take action like spraying water and removal of earth from roads to ensure implementation of the regulations aimed at keeping a tab on pollution,” he said, adding that strict action would be taken against the defaulters.

On the other hand, Varun Sheokand, an environment activist, claimed that certain activities, which include dumping of waste in the open, accumulation of earth on the side of roads, burning of waste and release of untreated water in the canals and in the open, were still on as it is nearly impossible to keep a constant watch in every part of the city or the district.

Alleging that while illegal dyeing units had also been responsible, he said the plying of thousands of old vehicles had also been adding to the problem.