Summary:
GHAZIABAD: The Ghaziabad administration has extended ban on construction activities and on industries that operate on coal and biomass till November 15. This is on account of city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) constantly breaching 400 mark for the last three days. The AQI on Saturday was recorded at 403 which comes under ‘severe’ category.“Owing to ‘severe’ AQI in the city for the last three days, the ban on construction activities in the city which was implemented on October 31 till November 10 has been further extended till November 15,” said district magistrate Ritu Mahehwari. The district pollution board had identified 210 such industries which have been ordered to be closed down.Meanwhile, the AQI on Saturday was recorded at 403, a day before 441 and on Thursday it stood at 422. On November 4, the team had imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on GDA for violations.“In accordance with Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) directions under which all coal and biomass fuelled industries in the city which were closed down from November 4 till 10 November will now remain closed till November 15,” added Maheshwari..