India: Govt. Suspends Construction Activities in NCR on Pollution Concerns

The Environment Pollution Authority (Prevention & control) has issued a notice regarding public health emergency in Delhi & NCR region today regarding suspension of construction activities in NCR region till morning 5th Nov'19, SteelMint learned from sources.

Mr. Bhure Lal, EPCA chairperson said in a letter to the chief secretaries of Haryana, in countering with heavy polluting weather air quality is now at Severe+ level, which is hazardous for health.

The key point notified that construction activities, hot mix plants and stone crushers in Delhi, Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Noida & Greater Noida to be closed till morning of 5th Nov'19. Meanwhile, earlier the activities was ban only for 12 hrs from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM, since 29th Oct'19 in few locations of northern India.

Inline, all coal & other fuel based industries, which is not shifted to natural gas or agro - residue (with exemption to power plants) will be closed till 5th of Nov'19 in Delhi, Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Sonepat, Panipat, Bahadurgarh & Bhiwadi.

Participants believe with this extended suspension in construction works, lifting of finished products is likely to slow down for a week's duration as consumption may drop gradually. As per them, northern India is one of the major consumer of steel products due to major housing & infra-structure projects.