The Gautam Buddh Nagar administration in Noida will enforce GRAP III as invoked by CAQM amid deteriorating air quality, implementing a strict ban on construction activities across Noida and Greater Noida. The ban excludes essential works but covers all others, following CAQM guidelines. Violations recorded in October led to penalties of approximately Rs 89 lakh. The main contributors to pollution in Noida are construction and road-side dust, along with vehicular emissions. The Air Quality Index (AQI) fluctuated between "very poor" and "severe". Measures like an odd-even scheme and road rationing have been proposed to combat the issue.
The Gautam Buddh Nagar administration in Noida is set to enforce GRAP III following the invocation of CAQM's anti-pollution measures in Delhi NCR due to worsening air quality. The air quality index (AQI) in Noida registered "severe" levels, prompting increased monitoring and enforcement of GRAP regulations.
Construction activities in Noida and Greater Noida will be banned, with exemptions only for essential works as specified by CAQM guidelines. These exemptions encompass construction work related to national security, healthcare, railways, metro rail, and more. Violations of GRAP guidelines have led to penalties, totalling nearly Rs 89 lakh in October. The UPPCB Noida and local authorities have issued these fines for various offenses, mainly in the industrial sector, including construction material handling and fuel use, with construction and road dust and vehicular emissions contributing significantly to pollution.
The penalties issued by the UPPCB Noida were separate from those imposed by the local Noida Authority, the Greater Noida Authority, and the UPPCB Greater Noida.
To address the deteriorating air quality, the Noida Federation of Apartment Owners Association (NOFAA) has called for measures such as an odd-even scheme for vehicles, road rationing, and minimizing the number of private vehicles on the road by 50%. NOFAA stressed the importance of dust control, including cleaning footpaths and roads, mechanical sweeping, and water spraying, along with the management of construction and demolition waste.
The graded response action plan (GRAP) provides a comprehensive strategy to address varying levels of air pollution, from moderate to severe, through measures like industrial activity bans, road rationing, and construction dust control. CAQM invoked GRAP III to halt non-essential construction, stone crushing, and mining activities in Delhi-NCR, along with restrictions on the use of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles. Authorities in Noida have responded to rising pollution levels with penalties and increased vigilance, aiming to curb further degradation of air quality.
In summary, Noida's administration is set to enforce GRAP III measures in response to declining air quality, focusing on the ban of construction activities in compliance with CAQM guidelines. Notably, violations of GRAP rules resulted in significant penalties, reinforcing the need for strict enforcement. The emphasis on air quality management remains a priority, with authorities vigilant in addressing the issue.
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