Ghaziabad Air Crisis: Spike In Respiratory Patients As Road Dust Chokes City

With the change in weather, residents are "gasping and coughing" due to severe air pollution. Doctors' clinics report an increasing number of patients suffering from coughs, colds, and respiratory problems. Taking a strict stance, the Supreme Court has ordered the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to file an affidavit on the rising air pollution.

While industry, traffic, and construction work are known contributors, dust from broken roads is being identified as a major factor. An investigation by Dainik Jagran in industrial and urban areas found many places with potholes and swirling dust instead of proper roads.

Conditions In Industrial Areas

Bulandshahr Road Industrial Area: While UPSIDA has constructed several roads, many others remain unfinished. Gravel is missing, and vehicles navigating the potholes and dust make employees and people working in open areas ill. Sanjeev Sachdeva, General Secretary of the IAMA organisation, says dust is swirling on the roads from Lal Kuan. He adds that where roads have been built, traffic jams caused by trucks and lorries create further problems.

Meerut Road Industrial Area: Near Tata Steel, the road is filled with deep potholes that kick up dust. This road is used by many schoolchildren, and nearby residents are troubled by the conditions.

Broken Roads In Urban Areas A Menace

In addition to industrial zones, the air pollution graph is rising due to dust from damaged roads in many parts of the city, including Siddhartha Vihar, Pratap Vihar, Rajnagar Extension, Sanjay Nagar, Patel Nagar, Shastri Nagar, and Nehru Nagar.

Official And Expert Responses

Authority Response: Officials say repair work is ongoing. NK Chaudhary, Chief Engineer of the Municipal Corporation, stated that roads damaged during the monsoon are being made pothole-free and repaired. Similarly, Rudresh Shukla, Media Coordinator for the GDA, says the campaign to make roads in the authority's area pothole-free is continuing.

Industry Perspective (IIA): Neeraj Singhal, outgoing National President of the IIA, commented, "After the weather changes, there will be more complaints of pollution, with dust being a major factor. Air pollution and traffic are more responsible than factories. The condition of roads in most industrial areas is poor, and they should be repaired without delay."

Industry Perspective (Ghaziabad IIA): Sanjay Agarwal, President of the Ghaziabad Chapter of the IIA, warned, "Most roads in the industrial areas are not in good condition. The dust kicked up by vehicles here is harmful to the human body. It is no less dangerous for the products being manufactured in the factories. There is a significant risk of quality deterioration due to this."

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Health Advisory

Dr Alok Ranjan, Senior Physician at MMG Hospital, offered advice: "To protect against coronavirus infection, masks are considered a part of the lifestyle. Air pollution is increasing; in such a situation, use a mask regularly when leaving the house."

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