GRAP-III curbs imposed, yet open waste burning continues in Jhajjar

The Commission for air quality management (CAQM) on Tuesday invoked Stage III of the graded response action plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region. However, open burning of waste continues in Jhajjar and Bahadurgarh towns of the district, in clear violation of GRAP directives.

In a recent incident, waste and dry bushes were found burning in the open near Rohtak bypass in Jhajjar city on Monday evening. The fire worsened the city’s air quality, while similar cases were reported from several areas of Bahadurgarh town in recent days. However, the district authorities are taking action against those violating the GRAP instructions by burning waste in the open.

“So far, the Bahadurgarh Municipal Council has collected fines totaling Rs 30,000 from violators of GRAP guidelines. Immediate action is taken by the authorities concerned on receiving information about any such violations in the district,” said Shailendra Arora, Regional Officer, Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), Bahadurgarh.

He said the CAQM had enforced Stage III of the GRAP in Delhi-NCR, making it applicable in Jhajjar district as well.

Under Stage III of the GRAP, a complete ban has been imposed on all non-essential construction and demolition activities, including earthwork, piling, trenching and open-air operations of ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants. Exemptions include essential public projects such as those related to railways, metro construction, airports, defence, sanitation, and healthcare facilities. These activities are permitted to continue, provided strict dust and waste management norms are followed.

The plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers has been prohibited in Delhi and its neighbouring NCR districts. Additionally, the transport of construction materials such as sand and cement, particularly on unpaved roads, has been banned.

All stone crushers, mining units, and hot-mix plants that are not operating on clean fuel are required to shut down. The use of diesel generator sets is also banned, except for emergency and essential services.

There is a restriction on inter-state diesel buses entering or operating within Delhi. Private companies have been advised to adopt work-from-home or hybrid work models to help reduce vehicular emissions.

The authorities have been directed to intensify road cleaning, mechanical sweeping, and water sprinkling operations to suppress dust, while strict enforcement has been ordered against open waste burning and visibly polluting vehicles.