With the aim of improving air quality in the NCR which is gasping for clean air, Mewat, Faridabad and Jhajjar, the three neighbouring districts of Gurgaon have imposed a strict penalty on polluting industrial units and slapped a complete ban on construction activities.

With the pollution levels in Gurugram termed ‘severe’, neighbouring  Mewat administration has ordered the district’s 95 brick kilns to remain shut till further orders have prevented locals from any kind of waste or crop burning.

In Faridabad district, all construction activities have been banned.Only interior work, which does not cause any dust, is permitted. Atul Dwivedi, deputy commissioner, Faridabad said any kind of digging, even for road and highway projects have been prohibited and water is being sprinkled in areas where PM10 level is found to be more over 700 micrograms per cubic metre.

In Jhajjar, the authorities are trying to prevent dust and waste accumulation on roads or footpaths. Any contractor or agency found guilty of mismanagement of construction materials, causing pollution will be fined an amount up to Rs 5 lakh. Also, a fine of Rs 50,000 per day will be imposed for inadequate road dust control.

To reduce vehicular pollution, public transportation should be upgraded and encouraged so that people reduce the use of private vehicles. The roadways department has been asked to increase the number of buses on roads.

Sources said the officials are constantly monitoring the pollution levels and checking whether the preventive measures are being complied before imposing any further curbs.