CPCB: Most trash burning complaints from Noida

NOIDA: Garbage burning continues to be Noida’s top contributor to pollution and the biggest cause of complaints, a Central Pollution Control Board report said.
The field visit report, based on surveys between October 7 and November 3, noted that more than 13% of waste burning complaints in NCR come from Noida and Gurgaon South each – the highest. They are followed by Faridabad (10.3%) and Ghaziabad (9%).“Garbage burning is one of the major causes of pollution in Noida and Greater Noida. But it is difficult to track down and penalise offenders who set waste on fire and escape. However, our teams keep monitoring things on the ground and we have caught a few offenders after getting complaints, by mail and text,” said Anil Singh, regional officer of the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), Noida.
Delhi, however, retains top spot for number of complaints across all other categories – open dumping of garbage, dust from construction and demolition waste, unpaved roads and pits, road dust and traffic congestion.
Outside Delhi, Noida tops the number of open waste dumping complaints – with 8.1% of all complaints. Faridabad is a close second, with 7.9% of complaints, followed by Gurgaon South with 5.2%.
In NCR, not counting Delhi, Ghaziabad had the highest number of complaints in three categories. It has the highest number of complaints of unpaved roads and pits, outside Delhi, with 12% of all complaints. Faridabad is next with 10.8% and Noida with 8%. Ghaziabad also had the maximum number of road dust complaints among NCR cities, excluding Delhi, with 13.8% of all complaints.
Meerut had the second highest (9.9%), followed by Noida (8.8%). Traffic congestion is also where Ghaziabad filed the most complaints (5.2%), followed by Noida and Gurgaon North at 4.1% each. As pollution violations continue, the UPPCB has written to all departments about the penalty for each violation – industrial emission fines can go as high as Rs 1crore, but enforcement has been a problem.
“The high fines had been prescribed since 2017, but most agencies either don’t know or are not too strict. We cannot afford to be lax. We have just come out of the ‘severe’ zone and with a drop in temperature for the next few months, we may see more days with really bad air quality,” said Utsav Sharma, regional officer of UPPCB, Ghaziabad.
The order reiterates that environmental compensation up to Rs 1 crore can be imposed for industrial emission during “severe-plus” days (when the air quality index crosses 500) or not installing vapour recovery systems at oil company outlets.
Penalty of Rs 50 lakh can be imposed on large construction sites or for garbage dumping. Government agencies can be fined up to Rs 25 lakh for not sprinkling water.