changeadminChairing a high-level review meeting on Air Pollution in Delhi-NCR, India’s Minister for Environment, Bhupender Yadav, asked all concerned State and UT authorities to expedite the on-the-ground implementation of all decisions taken in the previous five meetings to improve Air Quality in Delhi-NCR.
Delhi government’s Minister for Environment, Forest and Wildlife, Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa, was present during the meeting.
Given Delhi’s poor air quality, Mr Yadav emphasised the need for high-quality implementation of action plans across all identified categories in Delhi-NCR.
The areas included accelerated Road Development and Repair; Dust Control by ensuring end-to-end pavement coverage; Construction and Demolition Waste Management; Industry compliance with Emission Standards; Smart Traffic Management; boosting Public Transport; legacy Solid Waste Management; and Greening of open spaces.
The Minister requested that each stakeholder prepare detailed Annual Action Plans for the coming year to reduce pollution at its source. He further stressed the time-bound execution of plans to achieve monthly and weekly targets.
The year-long roadmaps would ensure proactive planning toward improving air quality in the NCR, he noted. Mr Yadav also directed that on-the-ground review meetings would soon be held to ensure that the action plans are implemented in earnest.
The meetings, coordinated by the CAQM, would include discussions with the Agriculture Departments of the Governments of Punjab and Haryana on stubble burning; with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development on new initiatives for planned urban development; with local bodies of NCR cities on tackling local contributors of pollution.
During the meeting, issues were addressed one by one, and progress was reviewed. On the issue of Industry’s compliance with emission standards in Delhi-NCR, a decision was made to hold delinquent units liable to encourage them to voluntarily accelerate the installation of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) and Air Pollution Control Devices (APCD).
Strict actions will be taken against units that fail to comply by 31.12.2025, including closure directions. Further, it was noted that escalations in the market prices of such devices are being closely monitored to avoid discouraging industrial units and delaying device installations.
Approximately 2,254 industrial units with high potential to cause pollution, including metal, textile, food/food processing, and other red-category industries, have been mandated to install calibrated and verified OCEMS, along with APCDs, by 31st December 2025.
CPCB informed that an SOP for OCEMS installation has been issued and directed NCR SPCBs/PCCs to ensure early installation, CPCB said.
The Minister reviewed Road Development works, including pothole repairs, and instructed NCR States to adhere to time-bound SOPs to complete pending works strictly. App-based monitoring was emphasised to enable real-time citizen feedback and corresponding corrective action by authorities.
Mr Yadav emphasised the need to ensure high-quality road construction, adhering to the CAQM design framework, including end-to-end pavements and proper drainage.
Intensive on-the-ground monitoring of ongoing works in Delhi is needed, he said. The Minister further requested that the Municipal authorities expedite the deployment of Mechanical Road Sweeper Machines (MRSMs) at ground level.
On Traffic Congestion, it was emphasised that 62 identified hotspots in Delhi require urgent action through intelligent traffic management solutions by the Delhi Police, and that short-term measures can be deployed immediately to resolve traffic issues.
Further, actions such as removing encroachments and illegal parking, deploying additional police during peak traffic hours, and issuing tenders for foot-over-bridges were requested to be fast-tracked. Similar action plans are encouraged for other NCR cities, with the Minister stressing the need for visible, on-ground improvements.
The review meeting highlighted the ongoing transition of the Public Transport fleet to electric vehicles, with approximately 3,400 buses currently in operation and expected to reach over 5,000 by March next year. End-to-end connectivity based on passenger load in high-population-density areas of Delhi-NCR was emphasised.
The Minister also called for targeted action against the BS-IV commercial vehicles. It was informed that BS-III and below have been stopped from entering Delhi w.e.f. 1st November 2025.
The Minister instructed officials to identify potential Greening Sites across NCR and ensure public participation in mapping and execution. Plantation on degraded forest land, greening of open spaces, and removal of encroachments from urban parks, water bodies, and wetlands were emphasised.
The education departments of NCR States were asked to revive eco-clubs and green warrior groups to enhance youth-led greening efforts and promote community conservation.
Micro-plans are to be prepared in consultation with relevant departments and implemented this winter, continuing for the next five years, ensuring the participation of local elected representatives, as Shri Yadav desired.
The Minister reviewed progress over the last five meetings, noting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. The meeting witnessed participation from key stakeholders, including senior officers of the Ministry, CAQM, CPCB, the Governments of NCT of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, Municipal Commissioners of NCR Cities, and other concerned agencies.
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