GURUGRAM: The city has been topping the air pollution chart in the National Capital Region (NCR), reporting the highest rate of rise in the level of PM 2.5, an ultra-fine pollutant, over the past week.The city’s air monitoring stations has been reflecting PM2.5 concentration at higher levels than those recorded at Anand Vihar and ITO — the most polluted localities in Delhi. In terms of the air quality index (AQI), too, Gurugramremained the most polluted city in the entire NCR since October 4.Officials said the city’s AQI continued to hover in the ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ regions since last week. While the AQI was ‘very poor’ on Tuesday, last Saturday and Friday, it was ‘poor’ last Sunday and last Thursday. On the other hand, the air quality in Delhi and Noida remained a tad better in the ‘poor’ level all these days. Faridabad , an industrial town located closer to the city, also reported lower levels of pollution.To make the situation worse, the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) is still appeared clueless on the reasons behind the rising pollution levels in the city.“We are in the process of analysing possible causes behind a sudden rise in pollution levels. The EPCA (Environment Pollution Control Authority) has already issued directions, asking all departments to take appropriate measures listed in the GRAP. We will soon have a meeting to decide the further course of action,” said Jai Bhagwan, regional officer, HSPCB. Deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap told TOI, “GRAP measures have been taken for the prevailing pollution level.”Experts and residents alleged that none of the GRAP measures had been taken by the authorities as yet. “The pollution level has been in the very poor category for days now, but the authorities seem to be least bothered. I don’t understand what they were waiting for. We can still spot open waste burning and dumping in different areas, while dust has enveloped the city,” alleged Niranjan Raje, a former member of EPCA.Vaishali Rana Chadra , a resident, said, “Not a single GRAP measure has been implemented yet. Pollution is taken seriously only when EPCA takes stock of the situation. We request EPCA and CPCB to take action against departments not taking enough measures to contain pollution.”As per the GRAP measures, the civic bodies should start mechanised sweeping on main road, while the pollution control board should inspect construction sites to make sure MoEF &CC norms are followed. The road and transport authority (RTA), on its part, needs to check movement of overloaded and polluting vehicles in the city.

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