CAQM Conducts Extensive Inspection of 125 Road Stretches in Gurugram

The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) conducted an extensive inspection drive on 26 December in Gurugram to review road-cleaning and sweeping operations and upkeep of road stretches maintained by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG).

The inspection was done as part of its continuous monitoring and enforcement efforts under the statutory framework of the extant Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), to evaluate on-ground compliance with dust mitigation measures and identify associated issues such as accumulation of road dust, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste and instances of open burning.

A total of 17 inspection teams, comprising 15 from the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) and two from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), were directed by the Commission to inspect 125 road stretches under MCG’s jurisdiction in Gurugram.

Geo-tagged and time-stamped photographic documentation was collected by the inspection teams and submitted to the Commission as part of the consolidated inspection report.

The inspection found that of the 125 road stretches inspected, 34 exhibited High Visible Dust, 58 showed Moderate Dust, 29 recorded Low Dust intensity, and only 04 showed No Visible Dust.

A large number of stretches with high visible dust were also found to have significant accumulations of MSW and C&D waste, along with multiple instances of open burning, indicating serious deficiencies in routine road maintenance, waste management, and field-level enforcement.

Several road segments across different wards and sectors of Gurugram, including residential colonies, internal roads, and arterial stretches, were identified as having persistent dust accumulation and waste dumping.

The presence of open burning and unmanaged waste across multiple stretches further aggravated dust conditions, underscoring the need for immediate corrective measures and stronger oversight by the relevant agency.

The Commission observed that the overall inspection results indicate the need for significant strengthening of MCGs’ on-the-ground operations, particularly regular mechanical sweeping, timely lifting and scientific disposal of collected dust and waste, active water sprinkling and dust-suppression measures, and strict prevention of open burning.

The Commission emphasised that sustained, focused efforts are essential to ensure visible improvements in road conditions and to prevent the re-accumulation of dust and waste.

The Commission reiterated that inspection and enforcement drives under ‘Operation Clean Air’ will continue to be conducted regularly across the NCR to ensure strict adherence to its Statutory Directions and GRAP measures for dust mitigation and the prevention of open burning.

The Commission is working on a war footing to ensure clean, green, and dust-free road stretches in the region.