Delhi pollution crisis: CAQM inspection flags dust buildup on roads, puts MCD under spotlight

Delhi pollution crisis

A sweeping inspection of the capital’s road network has revealed significant dust accumulation across numerous stretches, with the city’s largest civic body found to have the highest number of problematic sites.

The Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) flying squads conducted the inspections on Saturday, assessing 321 road stretches under the jurisdiction of three civic agencies.

The consolidated report, cited by The Indian Express, shows a stark disparity in conditions. Of the 182 roads inspected under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), 35 were categorised as having a “high level of visible dust intensity”.

A further 50 MCD stretches showed moderate dust levels, 70 were low and only 27 were found to have no visible dust.

In response to the findings, the CAQM stated there is a clear “need for further strengthening of MCD’s road-cleaning and mechanical sweeping operations”. The directive, noted in The Indian Express report, specifically highlighted the need for focus on stretches with recurring dust issues.

The picture was notably different in areas managed by the other two agencies. Inspections of 133 roads under the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) found no stretches in the high-dust category. One hundred showed no visible dust, 24 had low dust and nine were moderate.

Similarly, the six roads inspected under the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) had no high-dust stretches. Four were dust-free, while two showed moderate dust levels.

The drive was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of current cleaning, sweeping and dust-suppression measures. Following the audit, the CAQM has directed all agencies, with particular emphasis on the MCD, to intensify their cleaning operations.

Authorities have been instructed to optimise their schedules for mechanical sweeping to combat the persistent problem of road dust, a major contributor to the capital’s hazardous particulate pollution, especially during the drier months.

The inspection results underscore the ongoing challenge of controlling dust pollution at source and place renewed operational pressure on the city’s primary municipal body to enhance its street-cleaning regime.