Residents suffer due to road work in Malviya Nagar as contractor defies dust pollution norms

 

 

On one hand National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aiming for a 40% reduction in PM10 till 2026, reducing road dust is an urgent priority, on the other the Public Works Department (PWD) of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is defying the dust pollution norms at Malviya Nagar in Khamla during ongoing road asphaltation work. NMC is recarpeting a six-meter wide road near the Royal Enfield Service Station in Malviya Nagar. The contractor concerned is laying fine asphalt during the road work without sprinkling water for suppression of dust which is causing serious dust pollution in the locality.

 

The occupants of the houses and offices are compelled to close the windows and doors to restrict dust entering inside. Also, due to ongoing construction work, vehicles parked in the locality get dusty. Two-wheeler riders are the most affected. Some residents and passer-by confronted the supervisor for the dust pollution but he gave deceitful response, claiming the water tanker for sprinkling water could not reach the spot due to narrow lanes. However, other heavy vehicles were seen plying on the very road in the locality. According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), following pollution norms is mandatory for all construction and demolition work in India. As per the CPCB guidelines and under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016, non-compliance can lead to severe penalties, including stop-work orders and environmental compensation. As per the norms, project proponents must adopt comprehensive dust control measures.

 

These include water sprinkling systems, especially at unloading areas and on road surfaces, to suppress dust. Such measures were completely defied by the contractor on the project site. When asked about the violation of pollution norms in the road construction work to a senior officer of Laxmi Nagar Zone, he said, “We have instructed the contractor to follow the norms strictly and use water sprinklers while handling dust related work in the project.” Administration often acts after receiving complaints and time to time inspection of projects is just on papers. This is just one example, however, Nagpur is witnessing such dust related issues on daily basis as the city is under ‘development’ mode.