Gurgaon continued to grapple with deteriorating air quality as the city’s Air Quality Index remained in the “very poor” category for the second consecutive day, prompting the Haryana State Pollution Control Board to issue an advisory to hundreds of residential and commercial establishments. On Friday, the city recorded an AQI of 315, showing a marginal improvement from 353 a day earlier but still posing serious health concerns.
In response, the pollution control board advised housing societies, high-rise apartments, commercial complexes and plotted developments to install smog guns or water-sprinkling systems to curb dust pollution, particularly during the winter months when air dispersion is low. The advisory was sent to more than 180 group housing societies, condominiums, colonies and commercial projects spread across prominent areas such as DLF City, Golf Course Road, Golf Course Extension Road, Sohna Road, New Gurgaon, Cyber City and Manesar.
According to officials, high-rise societies and large establishments have been asked to install at least one smog gun or water-sprinkling unit for up to four towers, with an additional unit required for every subsequent set of four towers. The systems are to be installed at suitable heights and fitted with directional nozzles to ensure uniform coverage of internal roads, parking areas, common spaces and peripheral stretches, while avoiding waterlogging or inconvenience to residents.
The advisory also stressed the use of treated water from sewage treatment plants as far as possible, to prevent wastage of potable water. Housing societies were instructed to operate these systems during early mornings and evenings, or whenever air quality slips into poor, very poor, severe or severe-plus categories. Officials noted that operations should be intensified on days marked by low wind speed, temperature inversion or high dust concentration, all of which worsen pollution levels.
Resident welfare associations and management committees were further directed to ensure regular maintenance of the systems, including cleaning of nozzles and strict adherence to electrical safety norms. The pollution board cautioned that poorly maintained systems could lead to water seepage, structural damage or safety hazards if not properly monitored.
Beyond smog guns, the advisory laid out additional pollution control measures such as regular sweeping of internal roads, a complete ban on open burning of waste or dry leaves, proper covering of construction material stored within premises, and regulation of diesel generator usage and emissions.
Each society has also been asked to nominate a responsible member or officer to oversee the operation of the systems and maintain a logbook recording the date, time and duration of use, which must be produced before authorities if required.
The pollution control board urged residents to cooperate with these measures in the interest of public health and environmental protection. Copies of the advisory were also forwarded to the municipal commissioner and the deputy commissioner of Gurgaon to ensure coordinated enforcement as the city battles persistent winter pollution.