GURUGRAM: In a significant move to curb pollution levels across NCR, the department of town and country planning (DTCP) has mandated registration of all construction and demolition (C&D) sites over 500 square metres on the Haryana State Pollution Control Board‘s (HSPCB) dust portal.
This directive follows a similar order recently issued by the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), which instructed sixteen developers to register their ongoing projects on the same platform to help monitor and control dust emissions.
The decision, aimed at improving air quality, is part of the state’s adherence to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a framework designed to tackle pollution in NCR’s most affected areas.
Rising levels of dust and particulate matter, largely originating from C&D activities, put people’s health at risk, making them vulnerable to respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.
As the number of infrastructure projects continues to grow in urban centres like the city and other areas of NCR, residents have raised concerns over declining air quality and its adverse health impacts.
Commenting on the department’s decision, a senior DTCP official said, “The mandatory registration of all construction and demolition sites on the dust portal is a step towards enforcing stricter environmental standards. By monitoring and regulating these sites, we aim to mitigate the dust that significantly contributes to air pollution. This is a proactive measure, and we expect full compliance from developers across the region.”
The dust portal registration will facilitate real-time monitoring of C&D activities, enabling authorities to take prompt action if emissions exceed permissible limits. Registered sites are also expected to adopt dust suppression measures like water sprinkling and covering of materials to minimise airborne particulates.
For residents, this initiative provides a much-needed relief. “Pollution from construction sites is a health hazard for us,” said Neha Arora, who lives near a large development site in the city. “I hope this directive is strictly enforced to keep the air cleaner. We’ve seen how dust levels rise every day, especially during peak construction hours. It’s a relief to know that the govt is taking steps to address this.”
With the directive in place, the DTCP has also ensured that any new C&D projects or land-use change applications in the NCR will be approved only if they are registered on the dust portal.
