Gurugram's Pollution Crisis: 1.4M Tonnes Of Waste At Bandhwari, Anti-Smog Guns Missing

Burning eyes, sore throats, no morning walks, no evening strolls. People are becoming confined to their homes. This pollution is the same story every year. From October to February, Gurugram turns into a gas chamber. On Wednesday, Gurugram recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 223. In the name of remedies, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is implemented, but its rules are blowing away in the dust and smoke.

Sprinkling water on the roads, fining vehicles, and temporarily banning construction are considered the only measures. The reality is that pollution is the result of Gurugram's system, mismanagement, and negligence. Garbage scattered on the city's roads, construction sites openly kicking up dust, piles of C&D (Construction and Demolition) waste, and inactive cleaning agencies are collectively turning it into a 'gas chamber'.

The lack of coordination between the Pollution Control Board and the Municipal Corporation, the limited number of monitoring devices, and plans remaining only on paper are making the situation more dreadful. By the time the system wakes up, winter will be over. Like every year, the same cycle is being repeated this year.

Pollution increased, GRAP was implemented, water was sprinkled, and reports were made, but the question remains the same: when will there be a permanent solution? The question also is, when crores of rupees are being spent on cleaning and control, why is the air so toxic? How long will the 40 lakh people of Gurugram continue to suffocate like this, and the responsible officials remain silent spectators? 

30 Per cent Of Garbage Remains On Streets, Disposal By Matchstick

According to Municipal Corporation data, only 65 to 70 per cent of the waste generated in the city is being collected. The remaining 30 per cent is dumped on roads, in drains, and on empty plots. This includes a large amount of combustible waste, plastic, and polythene household items, which release pollutants into the air. Garbage being burned in the open at various places has become the biggest cause of pollution. The negligence of agencies in waste disposal and the lack of monitoring by the Corporation are clearly visible.

No Cure For This Dust

In the name of cleaning Gurugram's roads, 16 mechanical road sweeping machines are deployed, but most machines are either broken down or used merely for show. Even on the routes where these machines operate, dust accumulation remains. Dust rising from roadsides and broken footpaths has made the city a permanent source of particulate matter. Experts say that until the soil on the roadsides is paved and regular cleaning is done, improvement in the AQI is not possible.

Tankers Are Sprinkling Water, But Where?

As soon as GRAP is implemented, the Municipal Corporation and private agencies begin the formality of sprinkling water on the roads. But the reality is that the tanker water only reaches limited main roads. This sprinkling hardly ever happens in internal colonies, service lanes, and industrial areas. The result is that after a few kilometers, the dust starts flying again. Pollution experts say that sprinkling provides temporary relief; it is not a permanent solution.

Builders Flout Rules In The Dust

It is mandatory for construction sites of 500 square meters or larger to register on the dust portal. This rule was made so that every construction site could be monitored and anti-smog equipment could be installed. But most builders in the city are ignoring this rule. The number of sites registered on the dust portal is negligible, whereas hundreds of projects are underway in the city. Construction material lies open, and dust keeps flying. Inspection and action from the administration are negligible.

C&D Waste Being Dumped On Roadsides

Despite arrangements for disposing of Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste, most of it is dumped on roadsides or empty plots. This not only causes dust to fly but also increases problems of waterlogging and traffic. If the waste is transported to the recycling plant, pollution can be reduced by 10 to 15 per cent.

1.4 Million Tonnes Of Garbage Lying At Bandhwari Landfill

At the Bandhwari landfill site in Gurugram, 14 lakh tonnes of garbage is rotting, continuously releasing toxic gases and smoke into the atmosphere. The waste disposal work is stalled, and a new tender is proposed to open on November 7. This delay has worsened the pollution situation. Until the waste processing plant is fully operational, Bandhwari will remain the city's biggest source of pollution.

Also Read: Greater Noida: YEIDA Accelerates Push For Institutional Sector After Residential Success

Budget Received, Wait Continues For Ten Anti-Smog Guns

The Pollution Control Board issued a budget of ten crore rupees to the Municipal Corporation two months ago to purchase anti-smog guns. The plan was to install ten machines on major routes and at pollution hotspots, but the tender process has not even been completed. The result is that the air is getting more toxic, and the guns are still stuck on paper.

Crores Paid To Cleaning Agencies, Work Is Zero

The responsibility of cleaning the city lies with six agencies and four door-to-door garbage collection companies. They lack adequate machines, vehicles, and resources, yet the Municipal Corporation pays them crores of rupees every month. There is no solid system for monitoring their work. In many areas, cleaning doesn't happen for weeks. This situation indicates that while the budget for the cleaning system is large, there is no responsibility or transparency.

Also Read: Chhattisgarh Man Presumed Dead, Family Buried A Body But He Returns; Shocking Case Surfaces

Only Four Pollution Monitoring Devices

Gurugram, with a population of about 40 lakh, has only four pollution monitoring devices (at Vikas Sadan, Sector 51, Gwal Pahari, and Manesar Sector 2). The air quality data for the entire city remains incomplete, making it difficult to strategize pollution control. The lack of precise data on pollution levels from different categories like industry, traffic, and construction is a major obstacle to policy-making. Experts say it is essential to install monitoring stations in every zone of the city so that effective measures can be decided.