Gurugram’s air quality deteriorated on Tuesday, as the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to 226, falling in the ‘poor’ category. Despite the enforcement of stage 4 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR, ongoing construction activities continued to exacerbate the pollution levels.
The worst-hit areas included Teri Gram with an AQI of 267, Sector 51 at 254, and Gwalpahari at 247, all classified as ‘poor’. Just one day after a brief period of ‘moderate’ air quality, the city experienced a rapid return to unhealthy levels, with little hope for immediate improvement.
Despite the air quality crisis, smaller-scale construction activities, particularly house redevelopment and expansion projects, continue without adherence to the necessary environmental protocols. These sites often evade scrutiny due to their scale and the lack of enforcement, allowing dust and debris to accumulate freely. Construction waste is frequently dumped along roadsides, and workers grind stones in the open, contributing to the dust pollution. As a result, residents are left surrounded by a fine layer of dust, affecting buildings, vehicles, trees, and even the workers who often operate without protective gear. Amit Yadav, a resident of Sector 45, voiced his frustration, saying, “Seasons change, but the lanes remain covered in dust. Nobody cares about the health of the residents. The civic bodies do not check whether the construction activities have stopped as per the GRAP orders.” Rohit Rai, a Sushant Lok resident, added that construction activities continue late into the night, violating the noise and dust regulations. “The smaller construction sites do not have any covers to prevent dust from dispersing,” he said, pointing out the lax enforcement of rules by local authorities.
Many construction sites, particularly those operating illegally, fail to comply with basic environmental guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. These include covering construction sites with green sheets, sprinkling water to reduce dust, and properly covering vehicles transporting construction and demolition (C&D) waste. As a result, these sites contribute significantly to the city’s ongoing air pollution issues. In response, authorities assured that action is being taken against large construction sites exceeding 20,000 square meters, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). Smaller sites, however, remain under the responsibility of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), and officials have been instructed to ensure compliance with the environmental norms. Vijay Chaudhary, HSPCB regional officer for Gurgaon, said, “We are taking action against larger sites. Smaller sites are under MCG’s jurisdiction, and they’ve been asked to ensure the sites follow the norms.” As the air quality continues to worsen, the need for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations becomes more urgent to safeguard the health of Gurugram’s residents.
