On first day of GRAP, Rs 1 lakh fine on private firm for road dust in Greater Noida

NOIDA: On the day stage I of GRAP came into effect in Delhi-NCR, the UP pollution control board slapped a Rs 1 lakh fine on a private contractor for dumping loose soil at the site of two under-construction foot overbridges near Jagat Farm and Kailash Hospital, in violation of rules set by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

In 2013, Greater Noida Authority officials hired private agencies for the construction of eight overbridges. Lion India Limited, allotted the tender to construct the two overbridges on the busy Surajpur-Kasna Road, started the construction earlier this month.

A complaint submitted by residents said the construction of the two overbridges involved extensive excavation and the contractor had dumped the soil, thus dug up, uncovered by the roadside. This loose soil billowed clouds of dust into the air as vehicles passed by causing significant pollution, they said.

Officials from pollution control board inspected the two sites on Monday and slapped penalties worth Rs 50,000 each on the firm for violation of green norms.

"During inspection, it was observed that the construction of a foot overbridge near Jagat Farm in Gamma-1 was underway. The soil excavated for project was kept in an open area without any protective covering. The movement of vehicles on road caused dust to become airborne, which is likely to have a detrimental impact on the surrounding air quality. The contractor also did not take measures such as water sprinkling and green net covering during the construction process, a violation of the NGT order and Stage I of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)," UPPCB regional officer DK Gupta said.

After air quality slipped to the ‘poor' category, dust control and mitigation measures under GRAP stage I was imposed across Delhi-NCR from 8am on Tuesday. On Monday, Greater Noida's AQI was recorded at 274, up from 228 on Sunday and 150 (moderate) on Saturday.