GURUGRAM: The city has been waiting for its second air quality monitoring machine for the past two years.The second machine has been proposed to be installed near IMT Manesar.The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) had announced in August 2016 that it would install the second air quality monitoring machine in Gurugram within a year. In July 2017, after Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) chairman Bhure Lal had a meeting with local officials, the pollution control board reiterated that the monitoring system would be installed within a month. However, the plan still remains on paper only.Sources in HSPCB told TOI the air quality monitoring machine has been purchased and land also acquired for installation.“But we have been waiting for permission from Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation as the system is to be installed in its complex. As soon as we get the permission, the installation process will start,” said sources.When contacted, Bhure Lal said, “Haryana put across a proposal to install 13 air monitoring machines across the state. However, they have delayed the installations by at least a year. On Thursday, I gave strict instructions to HSPCB to get the machines installed this winter. The monitoring machines are extremely important to know the current state of air pollution in the city so that adequate measures can be taken.”According to sources in Panchkula office (head office) of HSPCB, bureaucratic red tape is majorly responsible for a delay in installation of the machine. “The tenders were rolled out after 10 months of making the announcement of installation of the machine. After the tendering was completed, it took about six months to get the machine. But typical bureaucratic hurdles are delaying the installation,” said an official.Experts also stressed on the need for few more monitoring machines in the city. “As of now, we are not getting the clear picture as there is only one monitoring machine located in a corner of the city. The machine is installed some 20 kilometres away from congested areas such as DLF Cyber City, MG Road and Golf Course Road. Not just Manesar, there is an urgent need to install more monitoring machines near all congested junctions,” said Niranjan Raje, a former member of EPCA.Currently, there is only one pollution measuring station in the city, installed at Vikas Sadan near Rajiv Chowk. On the other hand, other NCR cities, including Noida and Faridabad, have two air quality monitoring machines. The air quality in Gurugram remains in the ‘poor’ category for 80 per cent days in a year. The situation worsens every year in winters, post-Diwali. The highest level of PM2.5 was recorded at 803 micrograms per cubic metre on November 2 last year.

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