The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas conducted an extensive inspection drive in Greater Noida to assess visible road dust and evaluate the effectiveness of road cleaning and sweeping operations carried out by the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority. The exercise was aimed at reviewing on ground implementation of dust mitigation measures and identifying gaps requiring immediate corrective action to curb air pollution.
For the inspection, the Commission deployed eight teams comprising three teams from the Central Pollution Control Board and five teams from the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board. The teams inspected 35 locations across Greater Noida under the jurisdiction of GNIDA, covering both arterial and internal roads. Geo tagged and time stamped photographs were collected during the inspections and submitted to the Commission as part of a consolidated report.
The inspection revealed that visible road dust continues to remain a major concern in several parts of Greater Noida. A total of 102 instances of road dust related violations were recorded during the drive. These violations were observed across internal roads sector roads and major corridors in areas including Beta Delta Alpha Gamma Eta Sigma Omicron Zeta Ecotech Knowledge Park and Techzone. Significant dust accumulation was also noticed on several 60 metre 80 metre and 130 metre wide roads connecting key junctions and rotaries.
The findings pointed to deficiencies in mechanical sweeping operations inadequate frequency of water sprinkling delayed lifting and improper disposal of dust and debris and poor maintenance of roadsides central verges and adjoining areas. In many locations dust accumulation was aggravated by heavy vehicle movement and insufficient housekeeping along road margins.
Based on the inspection findings CAQM has directed GNIDA and other concerned agencies to take immediate corrective action at all identified locations and ensure strict compliance with the Commission’s statutory directions and the Graded Response Action Plan measures. The Commission has emphasised the need to strengthen enforcement supervision and accountability mechanisms including proper deployment of mechanical road sweeping machines continuous performance monitoring and fixing responsibility for lapses.
The Commission said inspection and enforcement drives under Operation Clean Air will continue across the National Capital Region to ensure effective dust mitigation and prevent deterioration of air quality due to road dust emissions. CAQM reiterated that it is working on a war footing with all concerned agencies to ensure clean well maintained and dust free roads across NCR.
