CAQM conducts inspections at Sonipat over compliance of pollution norms in NCR

As part of the ongoing enforcement drive to ensure strict compliance to the statutory directions and prescribed environmental norms in the National Capital Region (NCR) amid the bad air scenario, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) undertook a major inspection operation in Haryana’s Sonipat, where 29 units were found violating the norms.

The commission has stated that stringent inspections are essential to curb non-compliance, reduce emissions at source, and provide relief to citizens residing near such non-compliant polluting entities.

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These enforcement efforts are aimed at ensuring that industries and C&D sites follow the prescribed norms and do not contribute to air pollution in the region.

It was on Friday that a total of twenty flying squad teams of the commission were deployed for the operation, and enforcement action was conducted in both conforming and non-conforming industrial areas of the district.

The inspection was led by the District administration, which included Deputy Commissioner (DC), Duty Magistrates, and Police personnel, who ensured a smooth process during the inspections.

The areas for the checks were allocated to the flying squads by the district administration, and a total of 101 inspections were carried out, including at six Construction & Demolition (C&D) sites, while the rest were industrial areas.

In the non-conforming areas, 55 checks were conducted with 21 violations detected (including 2 C&D sites).

In conforming industrial areas, 46 inspections were conducted and 8 violations were recorded (including 3 C&D sites), officials said.

Use of unapproved fuel, absence of Air Pollution Control Devices (APCDs) and other such parameters were checked during the drive, where 20 units were found with malfunctioning systems.

Those units that operated without valid Consent to Operate (CTO) from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) were taken into account.

The CAQM stated that the inspection in Sonipat was part of the larger enforcement initiative of the committee to intensify on-ground monitoring, particularly during the GRAP period, in close coordination with state governments, authorities and agencies concerned.