Gurgaon Residents Question GRAP-4 Enforcement as Dust Crisis Persists
Gurgaon streets have transformed into dust zones despite the active implementation of GRAP Stage 4 across the National Capital Region. The Graded Response Action Plan's strictest anti-pollution measures appear missing on the ground, leaving residents frustrated and exposed to hazardous air.
Visible Violations Across Key Locations
A recent check across multiple Gurgaon areas revealed widespread violations of GRAP-4 restrictions. Construction activity, road excavation, and debris dumping continued unabated at several prominent locations.
IFFCO Chowk, one of the city's busiest junctions, showed broken road patches with exposed soil. Vehicles kicked up dust throughout the day, creating a persistent haze at this critical crossing.
"This is one of Gurgaon's busiest crossings, yet dust flies all day because the road remains broken and soil lies exposed. Everyone breathes this polluted air," said Ajay Singh, a daily commuter.
Residential Areas Bear the Brunt
In residential neighborhoods, the situation proved equally concerning. Sushant Lok 1 residents reported ongoing digging operations with no dust-control measures in place.
"Dust surrounds us everywhere," explained Komal Yadav, a Sushant Lok 1 resident. "They dug up patches and left them completely open. There's no covering, no water sprinkling, nothing at all."
Similar conditions prevailed in Sector 28, where construction material and waste piled along roadsides, narrowing lanes and forcing vehicles to drive over loose debris.
"The lane has narrowed because construction material occupies the roadside. Cars brush past rubble, sending dust clouds into the air," described Rahul Mehta, a Sector 28 resident.
Internal Roads Suffer Too
The problem extended beyond main thoroughfares to internal residential roads. In Palam Vihar, locals reported driving around debris heaps that remained uncleared for days.
"Even our internal roads have turned dusty now. Vehicles kick up dust because waste gets dumped and never gets cleared," a resident explained.
Sector 23 residents pointed to construction waste accumulating near intersections, describing the situation as routine throughout January.
"Waste lies near corners and intersections as if this were normal. Nobody comes to remove it for days," said Panjak Kapur from Sector 23.
Official Warnings Versus Ground Reality
Haryana State Pollution Control Board officials have repeatedly emphasized that construction dust and re-suspended road dust represent key pollution drivers during NCR winters. They warn that activities like road cutting and debris dumping can sharply worsen local air quality under current severe conditions.
An HSPCB official stated, "Civic agencies have received directions to take action against violations." However, residents see little evidence of this enforcement.
Shubham Khatana, another Sushant Lok 1 resident, expressed widespread frustration: "When GRAP gets announced, it looks strict on paper. On the ground, nothing really changes. Dust continues, digging continues. If GRAP-4 is truly in place, why does digging continue openly? We see no covering or clean-up measures."
Direct Violations in Maruti Vihar
In Maruti Vihar, locals flagged active construction works and rubble dumping occurring around them. They called these activities direct violations of GRAP-4 restrictions.
"If GRAP-4 is actually in action, how can construction work and dumping continue so openly? Dust covers the roads while children and elderly people walk through it," questioned Manoj Vashisht, a Maruti Vihar resident.
The Missing Enforcement
Across multiple locations, observers found construction waste and loose soil left on carriageways and road edges. No visible dust-control measures appeared implemented, including:
- Proper covering of construction material
- Effective barricading of work sites
- Mechanical vacuum cleaning operations
GRAP Stage 4, triggered during severe air quality episodes, aims to clamp down hard on dust and emissions. The plan includes strict controls on construction and related activities. Yet Gurgaon's current reality tells a different story entirely.
Residents report minimal visible enforcement even as air quality remains stressed. The city continues struggling with dust and traffic churn while supposed strict measures remain largely unimplemented.
