Gurgaon: Two senior pollution control officers in the city were suspended after a citizen complaint over the improper operation of a sewage treatment plant (STP) by a builder was reviewed at the highest level. The action comes at a time the city is headed towards the winter months, when pollution routinely becomes a major concern.The regional officers for Gurgaon (north), Akansha, and south, Mukul Kumar, were suspended with immediate effect. Separate orders were issued by Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) chairperson Shekhar Vidyarthi.The action came after chief minister Nayab Singh Saini himself reviewed complaints filed by residents through various channels. “The review included a complaint about the functioning of an STP operated by a builder. After examining the complaint, the CM ordered that both regional officers be suspended,” said an official who attended the meeting on Friday.The CM warned that strict action would be taken against any official found negligent in handling pollution. “Negligence or incorrect reporting in the disposal of citizens’ complaints would not be tolerated at any level. Responsibility would be fixed and strict action taken against officials concerned,” he said.The timing makes the action all the more significant. The city’s average AQI was 114.8 this Sept, higher than the averages recorded in Sept 2025 and 2024, according to data from the board. The city is now moving towards the period when deteriorating air quality puts pollution control agencies under intense pressure.For residents, HSPCB’s role extends beyond checking air quality. Its field officers also oversee complaints involving sewage discharge, STPs and compliance by industrial units — all of which can affect the environment and public health if pollution control requirements are not followed.A senior HSPCB official said the challenge required action on several fronts. “Pollution control in Gurgaon requires action on multiple fronts, including air pollution, discharge of untreated sewage and compliance by industrial units. We are monitoring STPs and industrial units and taking action wherever violations are found. The focus has to be on ensuring that pollution control measures are implemented on the ground and that violators do not continue to operate without compliance,” the official added.The simultaneous suspension of the two officials also puts the board’s field level monitoring under scrutiny at a crucial time. Both oversee separate jurisdictions in the city and are responsible for enforcement and monitoring in their areas.During suspension, Akansha and Kumar will have their headquarters at the HSPCB head office in Sector 6, Panchkula. They will be entitled to subsistence allowance in keeping with rules.
