As the entire Delhi-NCR is staring at another round air emergency, Divisional Commissioner of Gurugram Ashok Sangwan convened an emergency meeting of the concerned officials of several departments to discuss ways and means to contain pollution in the city. At the meeting, he strictly instructed them to ensure compliance of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for pollution control.
The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Amit Khatri, MCG Chief Engineer ND Vashisht and Regional Officer of Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) Kuldeep Singh among other officials of the concerned departments were present in the meeting.
During the meeting, various civic issues including unauthorised dumping of garbage, unmetalled roads and burning of garbage were discussed in detail.
The divisional commissioner said that the officers should understand their responsibilities towards controlling the pollution and work seriously in this direction.
He warned that negligence of duty would not be tolerated and the accountability of officer of the concerned area will be fixed.
“The officers should consider it their moral duty to ensure that no violation of the GRAP take place. The side effects caused by pollution are extremely severe and may spiral long after it is over,” he said.
He directed removal of unauthorised dumpsites at Udyog Vihar and ensure proper disposal of garbage. He said that the concerned departments should be more vigilant at places where unauthorised open garbage dumping is rampant and levy a fine of up to Rs. 5,000 from people found guilty of the violation. Also, FIRs can be filed against the accused.
He asked the police officials to increase patrolling at such places and take action against the violators as per rules.
Speaking at the meeting, the Divisional Commissioner asked the MCG Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner Amit Khatri to take stringent action against those indulging in garbage burning.
“All the officers should keep a tab on the incidence of the burning of garbage in their jurisdiction and ensure action against those who violate the rules. Toxic fumes generated through garbage burning is a slow poison for all of us,” he pointed out.
As per the direction of Supreme Court, the Divisional Commissioner also instructed the officials to conduct sampling of oil to ascertain that no kerosene oil is used in diesel-run vehicles which release noxious fumes.
A team has been formed by the District Administration consisting of officials of Pollution Control Board, Food and Supplies Consumer Affairs and Regional Transport Authority (RTA) to monitor fuel used in the vehicles.
RTA officials informed that they have already initiated sampling fuel of private vehicles and the collected samples have been sent to Noida for examination. They informed that the campaign to challan 10-year-old diesel, autorickshaws and other vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles in the district is being run by RTA.
