CAQM Reviews Actions Across Key Sectors for Abatement of Air Pollution in Delhi-NCR

The Sub-Committee on Safeguarding and Enforcement of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) convened its 24^th meeting to review air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region. 

The meeting comprehensively reviewed the status of enforcement actions undertaken by the concerned state governments across the sectors contributing to air pollution in the region.

During the meeting, detailed deliberations were held on sector-specific enforcement measures and on the progress made by the concerned implementing agencies in complying with statutory directions, advisories, and orders issued by the Commission to address air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.

The Commission undertook a comprehensive review of actions relating to:

Vehicular Sector

• Identification of traffic congestion hotspots and intersections in Delhi and NCR towns, and measures undertaken by concerned agencies to decongest such congestion points and minimise traffic congestion and vehicular emissions.
• Status of enforcement of Statutory Direction No. 88 regarding installation and operationalisation of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at border entry points by different state governments for the identification and diversion of BS-IV transport/ commercial goods vehicles (HGVs, MGVs and LGVs) to ensure effective enforcement against restricted and polluting vehicles.
• Enforcement actions taken against older vehicles (BS-III and below) in compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court.
• Status of phasing out of diesel auto-rickshaws across NCR districts completely by 31st December 2026 and ensuring plying of only CNG/E-Auto-based mobility in such areas, in line with CAQM’s Statutory Direction No. 70.
• Progress made against Statutory Direction No. 94 for fast-tracking of cleaner mobility in services provided by the Motor Vehicle Aggregators, Delivery Service Providers and E-commerce Entities w.e.f. 01.01.2026, including notification of Vehicle Aggregators and Delivery Service Providers policy and implementation of the portal.

Road Dust and Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste

• Procurement of additional Mechanical Road Sweeping Machines (MRSMs) and targeted actions for removal of road dust, particularly in identified dust hotspots in accordance with Circular of the Commission dated 10.02.2026.
• Status of collection, transportation, processing and management of C&D waste, including augmentation and mandates for off-take of recycled products by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)/ other agencies.
• Progress made in mitigation of dust from C&D projects in accordance with CAQM Direction No. 97.

Stubble Burning

• Preparatory action(s) undertaken by NCR State Governments and GNCTD for the Novel monitoring for prevention and elimination of wheat stubble burning during 2026.
• Implementation of CAQM Statutory Direction No. 92, mandating the use of paddy straw-based biomass pellets to be used in brick kilns (aiming 50% by 01.11.2028) located in Punjab and non-NCR Districts of Haryana for the prevention and control of paddy stubble burning.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)/biomass management

• Status of liquidation of legacy Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), capacity augmentation of waste processing infrastructure for fresh waste management and measures to prevent sanitary landfill fires and open burning of MSW/ bio-mass in Delhi-NCR for implementation of Statutory Direction No. 91 of the Commission.

Others

• Enforcement of stringent emission standards in industries across Delhi-NCR, as per CAQM Statutory Direction No.98.
• Augmentation of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) in NCR Districts as per CAQM guidelines.
• Status of implementation and progress made under Annual Action Plans by NCR State Governments/ GNCTD and concerned agencies for the abatement of air pollution in the region.
• Deployment of inspection teams for incognito/ surprise inspections for compliance with Statutory Directions Nos. 85, 86 and 87.
• Timely resolution of complaints received on the Social Media platform and tagged to the concerned agencies in GNCTD/ NCR States by CPCB.

Further, it was agreed at the meeting that all implementing agencies would regularly review air pollution control measures and take strict, targeted actions across sectors to abate air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.