Haryana minister Rao Narbir Singh on Thursday directed officials to ensure visible and effective pollution-control measures across the National Capital Region, including Gurugram, even before the Graded Response Action Plan comes into force, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
Singh reviewed ongoing measures at a meeting with officers of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board from Gurugram, Rewari, Nuh and Mahendragarh districts. He also issued directions for further improvements.
The forest, environment and wildlife minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently called for improvements in civic amenities in Gurugram during a meeting with all Haryana MLAs.
Singh said that, as a public representative, he was accountable to residents. Effective steps to control pollution and improve civic amenities were therefore necessary not only in Gurugram but across the NCR, he added.
According to an official statement cited by PTI, the minister directed officers to regularly and effectively monitor all measures being taken to control pollution.
He said pollution control board officials would submit weekly reports detailing the measures and the progress made. These reports would allow regular reviews and corrective action wherever required. Based on the reports, municipal corporations and the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority would also be directed to take effective steps.
Singh directed the authorities to increase the number of pollution control board officers and staff in NCR districts to improve the identification of pollution sources, regular inspections and enforcement of prescribed norms.
He asked officials to pay particular attention to construction sites, ready-mix concrete plants and road-cleaning arrangements to prevent air pollution. The departments and officials concerned must work in coordination and ensure compliance with prescribed standards, he said.
The minister also directed officials to collect samples from different locations with varying pollution levels, regularly monitor sewage treatment plants, and collect and test as many samples as possible from organisations generating waste in large quantities.
Singh said action taken merely as a formality would not be enough to control pollution. Regular monitoring, time-bound reviews and effective implementation of all measures must be ensured, he added. He also sought suggestions from officials on improvements needed in the existing pollution-control arrangements.
The directions focus on stricter monitoring, weekly progress reports, more pollution control staff and coordinated action across NCR districts to ensure that pollution-control measures are implemented effectively.
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