Gurugram, Nov. 20 -- Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) continued to dominate Gurugram's air through November, with experts warning that illegal waste burning - particularly at night - remains one of the city's most persistent pollution drivers. According to the Central Pollution Control Board's daily bulletin, PM2.5 has been the sole dominant pollutant in Gurugram for nine consecutive days since November 11, keeping air quality firmly in the "poor" to "very poor" categories. Officials and researchers said that while traffic emissions, construction dust and industrial output all contribute to the pollution load, waste burning has emerged as the most visible and recurring trigger. These particles are especially harmful as they penetrate deep into the lungs, experts said. Municipal officials in both Gurugram and Manesar said that multiple hotspots of illegal combustion have been identified across industrial and residential zones. A senior Municipal Corporation of Manesar (MCM) official said they have received several complaints, especially from Sectors 79, 82, 83, 6 and the IMT area, where unauthorised industrial waste is often burned under cover of darkness. "Teams on the ground have intensified night patrols. No fires have been reported at official garbage points, but open plots remain vulnerable," the official said. MCM joint commissioner Hitender Kumar said two vigilance teams led by assistant sanitation officers have been deployed for nightly inspections. "We have filed multiple FIRs and issued challans against offenders. Earlier hotspots in Sector 8 and plots along NH-8 have now been cleared of illegal dumping," he said. A fresh incident of burning was reported on Wednesday near the Ireo Corridor in Sector 67A, prompting residents to again accuse the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) of inadequate enforcement. "Frequent waste fires erupt on barren land near the society. We have complained several times but no action has been taken," said local resident Sandeep Singh. An MCG official said sanitation security teams - comprising 12 ASIs - will maintain strict watch in the area. The official added that 34 challans were issued on Tuesday for illegal waste dumping and open burning across the city. Dr Manoj Kumar, analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), said PM2.5 forms 40-60% of the particulate pollution load in winter across NCR cities. "Gurugram's proximity to Delhi and higher nighttime waste burning make PM2.5 levels staggeringly high, especially during peak hours," he said. Experts said stronger monitoring is critical. Independent air-quality specialist Sachin Pawar said cluster-level detection is necessary to identify emerging hotspots....