In a stringent crackdown on pollution, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has levied fines totalling Rs 14.10 lakh on 274 violators in just one week for flouting norms under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The enforcement drive, aimed at curbing deteriorating air quality, also saw the city's Traffic Police department issue a staggering 1,081 challans between December 14 and 21 for breaches of GRAP-4 regulations.
Breakdown of Penalties and Major Violations
The civic body's data reveals a detailed breakdown of where the penalties were imposed. The most common offence was not using dustbins, which accounted for 170 penalties and fines worth Rs 75,000. Open burning of waste resulted in fines of Rs 1.40 lakh across 28 cases.
Construction and demolition activities were a significant focus. Authorities imposed fines worth Rs 2.60 lakh for ten related violations. Furthermore, 51 cases of construction work continuing despite restrictions attracted heavy penalties amounting to Rs 7.90 lakh. Other notable fines included:
- Rs 75,000 from three cases of dust-generating activities.
- Rs 45,000 from nine instances of littering.
- Rs 15,000 from three cases involving storage of uncovered construction material.
Proactive Measures to Control Dust Pollution
Beyond punitive action, the MCG is deploying machinery to actively suppress dust. An MCG spokesperson outlined the measures, stating that 18 mechanised road-sweeping machines are operating during night hours to avoid daytime traffic disruption. For direct dust suppression, 10 truck-mounted anti-smog guns and sprinklers are spraying treated water daily on major roads and other vulnerable areas. The deployment of water tankers for the same purpose is also being done regularly.
Official Stance and Public Appeal
MCG Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya emphasised that pollution control remains a top priority for the administration. "We are strictly implementing all GRAP directives. Strict action against violators will continue," he asserted. Dahiya also made a public appeal, urging citizens to cooperate by avoiding waste burning, covering construction material, and adhering to all civic guidelines to help improve the city's air quality.
The parallel enforcement by the Traffic Police, resulting in over a thousand challans in a week, underscores the multi-agency effort to enforce GRAP-4 norms across Gurugram.
