Balasore: In view of a sharp decline in air quality over recent days, the district administration has decided to enforce stringent measures, targeting construction activities and other pollution sources, across Balasore Municipality and other urban local body (ULB) areas.
The restrictions, effective for the next seven days, aim to curb dust and emissions that have pushed the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) into the ‘very poor’ category.
Invoking powers under Section 163(2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the Balasore Collectorate has prohibited all construction activities between 6 pm and 10 am to minimise dust emissions during peak pollution hours. There is also a complete ban on demolition works, as well as earth excavation, within municipal and ULB limits.
To further mitigate road dust, the administration has mandated joint efforts by municipalities, ULBs, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to sprinkle water on all roads at least three times a day. The NHAI and the Executive Engineer of the National Highway Division must also ensure regular water sprinkling at ongoing highway construction sites.
Heavy trucks have been completely barred from entering Balasore town and other ULB areas.
Additionally, it has ordered for a ban on open burning of waste, coal at roadside eateries (dhabas), and any form of open fires.
To control mineral transportation-related pollution, Sub-Collectors of Balasore and Nilgiri, in coordination with the Regional Transport Officer (RTO), will issue orders restricting daytime movement of trucks carrying coal, minor and major minerals, and ash. The notification emphasised that no truck without proper tarpaulin covering will be permitted on NH-16, state highways, district roads, or other major routes in the district.
Brick kiln operations without valid permissions from authorities have also been prohibited.
Police, municipalities, ULBs, executing agencies, and the RTO have been tasked with enforcing these directives strictly. Sub-Divisional Magistrates of Balasore and Nilgiri will oversee daily monitoring and submit compliance reports to the Collectorate.
The measures come as the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded Balasore’s AQI at 297 on Sunday, reflecting ‘very poor’ air quality that poses health risks, particularly to vulnerable groups. Recent data also indicated fluctuating but persistently high pollution levels in the region, with PM2.5 as the dominant pollutant.
The AQI, however, dropped to 150 at 4 pm on Monday.
Earlier, the Angul administration has imposed similar restrictions for seven days as Talcher recorded extreme AQI levels ranging from 332 to nearly 400 over the past week.
