Noida: Days after Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued Noida Authority a notice after inspections found violations of dust-control norms, Authority responded by detailing measures being taken to check dust pollution. However, conditions on the ground, especially along sectors 32, 50, 52 and 75, have remained unchanged, with fresh violations, poor enforcement and inadequate implementation of orders continuing to worsen the problem.According to the CAQM notice issued on May 14, its flying squad inspected 142 road stretches under Noida Authority’s jurisdiction on Jan 5 and found four stretches with high visible dust and 24 with moderate dust. The findings were communicated to Authority on Jan 7, directing strict implementation of dust-control measures.A follow-up inspection of 46 areas on May 6 found 28 violations involving high visible road dust and accumulation of construction and demolition (C&D) waste. These findings were reported to Authority on May 11.CAQM said that despite statutory directions, orders and regular follow-up reviews, Authority failed to comply with the binding directions issued from time to time. “In view of the above, the Commission hereby directs you to explain why action should not be initiated against you and other responsible officer(s)/official(s), as stipulated under Section 14 of the Act, for non-compliance/contravention of the order(s)/direction(s) issued by the Commission,” CAQM director Shivendra Chaturvedi said in the notice.Commission’s show-cause notice warned that violations could invite penal action extending up to one year’s imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs1 crore.In its reply, Authority stated that immediate corrective action had been taken at all identified locations and that necessary mitigation measures had been implemented on a priority basis. It said the dust and C&D waste accumulation at the identified stretches had been removed and that monitoring had been strengthened.Authority also detailed its broader dust-control measures, including deployment of 14 mechanical road-sweeping machines covering about 340 km of roads daily, 26 truck-mounted water sprinklers, 34 normal water tankers, 85-90 static anti-smog guns and 10 truck-mounted anti-smog guns.“Strict monitoring of construction and demolition activities, enforcement of green barricading, covered transportation, anti-smog guns and regular sprinkling at construction sites in compliance with CAQM directions is taken up,” Authority said.Despite these claims, residents say conditions have not improved. Environmental activist Amit Kumar, who said the CAQM inspections had yielded no results, filed an RTI application seeking details of action taken. In its Sept 14 reply, CAQM shared the measures listed by Authority but confirmed it had no information on any fines imposed.“If Noida Authority is taking action as per CAQM directions, why is it that the streets are full of dust, and sand mixes can be noticed piled up by the roadsides,” Kumar said.
