Panipat battles pollution as authorities launch crackdown

Despite the enforcement of Stage-III restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the NCR, air-polluting activities continue unchecked across the district. Manual roadside sweeping, open garbage burning and black smoke billowing from factory chimneys remain routine sights. Residents report daily breathing difficulties and eye irritation, particularly during evening hours.

With temperatures dipping, air quality in Panipat and Sonepat has steadily worsened. On Thursday, Panipat recorded an AQI of 288, while Sonepat crossed into the “very poor” category at 310.

To counter this, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated GRAP-I, GRAP-II and GRAP-III measures on October 14, October 19 and November 11, respectively. Stubble burning has shown a significant decline — down nearly 90 per cent from last year — yet industrial pollution continues to undercut progress. Sources allege that several factories operate boilers at night to conceal black smoke, while illegal furnaces and garbage burning persist along Gohana Road, near railway tracks and in Sectors 25 and 29.

A leading industrialist, requesting anonymity, admitted that some units burn garbage in boilers after dark, making the air “almost impossible to breathe”.

Taking a stringent note of the CAQM violations, Deputy Commissioner Dr Virender Kumar Dahiya on Thursday constituted six special teams comprising officials from various departments to curb air-polluting activities in the district and directed the strict implementation of GRAP-III restrictions.

In his orders, the DC directed the Commissioner, MC, HSVP XEN and HSIIDC to ensure the use of mechanised road-sweeping machines, curb illegal dumping of solid waste, prevent open burning of solid waste, carry out water sprinkling on roads and enforce dust-control measures at construction and demolition sites below 500 sqm.

Team-2, comprising the Traffic DSP, RTA and Roadways GM, has been tasked with deploying traffic police at heavy-traffic and congestion points and enforcing strict vigilance and compliance with Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms for vehicles. Team-3, comprising NHAI, PWD B&R and the Agriculture Marketing Board, will handle water sprinkling on national highways and PWD roads, stoppage of construction activities and removal of solid waste from roadsides.

Team-4, comprising the RO, HSPCB, HSIIDC, DTP, the Mining Officer and the Estate Manager, will check illegal fuels, regulate construction and demolition activities above 500 sqm, oversee the direction and operation of diesel generator sets, conduct regular inspections of industries and shut down all mining activities. Team-5, comprising SP Panipat, the Deputy Director Agriculture and the DDPO, will monitor crop-residue burning and solid-waste burning outside MC limits. Team-6, comprising the District Food and Supply Controller and the Joint Director, District Industries Centre, will strictly enforce the existing ban on the use of coal and firewood as fuel in tandoors in hotels, restaurants and open eateries, allowing only electricity, gas-based or clean-fuel appliances.