Resident group CleanAirBharat has urged pollution control authorities to take coordinated and sustained action against the recurring practice of open burning of metal filters and scrap materials by scrap dealers in residential areas across Gurugram and other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR).
In a letter dated November 4, addressed to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), the group warned that the practice releases toxic fumes and potentially hazardous particulate matter, exposing workers and neighbouring families to serious health risks.
The letter cited an incident documented by a CleanAirBharat volunteer in Sector 52A, near the Fuel Nation petrol pump, on November 4. Similar incidents have also been reported in Sector 55, Sector 85, Sector 52, Nawada, Manesar, Noida and Greater Noida, the group said.
CleanAirBharat also highlighted its repeated requests to the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) for ground inspections of waste-burning and dumping hotspots in Sector 52, Ardee City and the area towards Sai Ka Angan.
“We have repeatedly requested MCG to undertake ground reconnaissance of waste-burning and dumping hotspots in Sector 52, Ardee City and towards Sai Ka Angan, including through our communications dated 9 and 31 October. No response has been received,” the letter stated.
Residents cannot be expected to continuously monitor and document such incidents, said Ruchika Sethi, a Gurugram resident and member of CleanAirBharat.
The group has sought immediate joint inspections by MCG and HSPCB, along with directions to stop open burning. It has also called for mapping scrap dealers and informal material-recovery units operating within or near residential areas and facilitating access to authorised recycling channels.
Emphasising the need for sustained inspections and enforcement, CleanAirBharat said the recurring nature of the violations required a systemic response rather than isolated inspections.
“This is a recurring practice, not a one-off violation. We need a systemic solution, not another complaint acknowledgement or an isolated inspection,” the letter said.
The group added that while residents and citizen volunteers could identify and report pollution sources, preventing emissions and ensuring compliance remained the responsibility of civic and pollution-control authorities.
CleanAirBharat has sought a response from the authorities detailing the proposed action to address the issue.
