Why Raj Nagar Extension in Ghaziabad doesn’t get respite, Real Estate News, ET Real Estate

GhaziabadResident of : Raj Nagar ExtensionAbout one lakh people live in about 50 multi-storey buildings, which have been facing dust pollution for a long time. In fact, this area is one of the 10 pollution hotspots of Ghaziabad.

According to residents, uncontrolled construction activities, dust from damaged roads and open burning of municipal solid waste are the main causes of pollution in the area. Although the field has emerged as residential Hub, it lacks green belt or park.

Vikrant Sharma, a resident of Gaur Cascades in Raj Nagar Extension, said, “Many residential societies have come up in the area in the last few years. However, it is an unplanned area. There is no green belt or park. Construction activity is causing an increase in dust pollution.”

According to the local people, trucks and dumpers carrying construction material during the day time add to the air and vehicular pollution.

“Also, most of the residents use their private cars for commuting, which leads to vehicular pollution. Also, many marriage halls have come up in the area and people coming for marriage ceremonies in cars also contribute to vehicular pollution. And are responsible for the crowd,” Sharma said.

Another resident Amit Kumar Tanwar said that the nearby Meerut Road industrial area has several factories. “Industrial pollution affects this area as well.”
According to the residents, flouting the norms of construction activity is causing air pollution in the area. For instance, construction material is lying uncovered at an under-construction site opposite the VVIP Address Society, a fact check by TOI revealed.

Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board Regional Officer Utsav SharmaUPPCB), said, “The department frequently undertakes enforcement drives and issues challans against violators.”

a Ghaziabad Development Authority “We have placed some tankers to sprinkle water in the area to reduce dust pollution. The air quality in the area has improved in the last few days,” the official said.

However, Akash Vashisht, a local environmentalist, stressed the need for proper landscaping and planting more trees, grass and shrubs to check dust pollution. Merely paving the footpaths and sprinkling water during the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) period will not yield good results.”

On Tuesday, Noida recorded an AQI of 169 (moderate), Greater Noida 212 (poor) and Ghaziabad 172 (moderate).