New Delhi: With increasing air pollution in Gurugram, the administration has taken strict action. There will be a ban on dust-raising construction and demolition work in the district from November 5 to 20. Even in government and private offices, only a maximum of 50 percent employees can be called at a time. The rest will have to work from home. Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh issued these orders on Tuesday. The order has been issued on the instructions of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

Dust-causing work on highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, pipelines and public structures will remain prohibited. However, urgent and strategic projects have been exempted. Construction work to railways, metro, airport, hospital, water supply, sanitation facilities and national security will continue. Industrial areas have also been kept out of the restrictions, so that essential services and infrastructure work does not stop.

Presence of 50 percent employees in offices

Haryana Government departments and private offices in Gurugram will have to make arrangements for work from home. According to the order, more than half of the employees will not be able to be present in the office at any time. The remaining employees will have to work from home. Offices have to maintain roster and record of attendance. This is an attempt to reduce vehicle movement.

Daily investigation, action on violations

To enforce the rules, monitoring has been entrusted to the concerned SDM and officials of Haryana State Pollution Control Board. They will inspect construction sites and offices daily. Violations can lead to action under the Commission for Air Quality Management Act, 2021.

Doctor warns about health risks from pollution

Medanta's doctor Randeep Guleria described severe and very severe category of air as a big health challenge. According to him, people with chronic respiratory or heart disease, children and the elderly are most at risk. As pollution increases, shortness of breath, cough and chest tightness may increase. Even healthy people may have trouble breathing and eye irritation.

Pollutants can worsen asthma, COPD and heart disease by increasing inflammation in the lungs and blood vessels. In winter, the geographical location of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, low winds and slow speeds trap pollutants near the ground. Instead of dispersing in the environment, they accumulate and cause pollution to persist for a long time.