Karnal, Nov. 13 -- At 418, Jind district recorded the AQI in "severe" category on Wednesday and was ranked as most polluted in the country with Delhi. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in nine Haryana cities was more than 300 under the "very poor" or "severe" categories. The index, which is an average of the past 24 hours, shows such places are - Rohtak (406), Fatehabad (397), Sirsa (379), Sonepat (372), Gurugram (350), Bhiwani (340), Charkhi Dadri (337) and Bahadurgarh (332). A day after 70 incidents of residue burning were reported in the state on a single day, the cases dropped to 29 on Wednesday. With this, the total count stood at 464 cases. According to figures, eight cases were reported in Jind, five in Sonepat, four in Kaithal, three each in Fatehabad, Hisar and Rohtak, one each in Jhajjar, Karnal and Panipat districts. During the last season a total of 1,020 cases were lodged during the same period since September 15. On Tuesday, the capital had recorded an AQI of 428 - the highest since December 19 last year. The marginal improvement on Wednesday offered little relief, with stagnant winds and a temperature inversion continuing to trap pollutants close to the surface. Inversion occurs when a layer of warm air sits above cooler air, preventing pollutants from dispersing and creating a dense, visible haze. Despite the imposition of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) Stage-3 on Tuesday by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in Delhi-NCR, unchecked waste burning, ongoing construction activities and Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) plants continue to operate across Gurugram. Under Stage-3 of Grap, all non-essential construction and demolition activities are banned, except for critical public projects, such as metro work, hospitals, and infrastructure related to national security. In Sector 79, residents alleged that a nearby RMC plant, continues to operate. "The plant emits a significant amount of dust and pollution, making it difficult for residents to breathe and go about their daily activities," said Dhirendra Singh, a resident of Sector 79. When contacted, Municipal Corporation of Manesar (MCM) joint commissioner Hitendra Sharma said, "We will take cognisance of the matter. The units will be directed to shut down operations, and our team will conduct another inspection of the area." Meanwhile, district town planner (DTP) RS Batth said that an FIR had been lodged against the RMC plant nearly a month ago and necessary action will be taken soon. Krishan Kumar, regional environmental officer at the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), said that the RMC plant's operations would be shut down soon. Open waste burning was reported in Sector 104 on Wednesday, where thick smoke was seen billowing into the air. Sunil Sareen, joint convener of Dwarka Expressway Gurugram Association, and a resident of Sector 102, said that cases of waste burning continue to be reported from sectors 102, 103, and 104. Meanwhile, an official from the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) said, "Ten trucks mounted with anti-smog guns have been ordered, and we expect to receive them by the end of November." At Sector 90, construction work continues behind New Town Heights society. Ashok Kumar Malik, a resident of the area, said, "The construction has been going on for the past 5-7 days. It's right next to our building." A HSPCB official said, "The board will be taking cognisance of the matter and initiate necessary action to ensure that construction and other activities comply with Grap norms." Deputy commissioner (DC) Ajay Kumar said, "Increasing air pollution is a matter of concern for all of us. Strict adherence to Grap regulations regarding air pollution control is crucial."...