Delhi: Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav reviews air pollution control action plans with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, focusing on vehicular emissions, industrial compliance, construction dust management, road redevelopment, and long-term strategies to improve air quality across the NCR.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (EFCC) Bhupender Yadav on Monday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess and strengthen the air pollution mitigation strategies of the Government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, with a specific focus on the wider National Capital Region (NCR).
The meeting was held as part of the Centre’s regular annual review mechanism aimed at evaluating progress, identifying implementation gaps, and reinforcing coordinated action to tackle one of the most persistent environmental challenges facing the national capital.
The review was attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Delhi government, and associated regulatory agencies.
At the outset, Bhupender Yadav commended Delhi government officials and implementing agencies for their sustained efforts in managing air pollution levels despite complex challenges arising from population density, urbanisation, and regional pollution sources. He noted that while incremental improvements have been observed, sustained and long-term structural interventions remain critical.
Recalling policy initiatives taken by the Union government, Yadav highlighted the enactment of a dedicated law in 2021 that led to the establishment of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). He described the commission as a forward-looking institutional framework designed to enable coordinated, science-based interventions across state boundaries within the NCR.
The Minister emphasised that Delhi’s air pollution problem cannot be addressed in isolation, as the entire NCR functions as a shared airshed. Scientific identification of pollution sources across the region has revealed that air quality deterioration is driven by a combination of anthropogenic activities—such as vehicular emissions, industrial processes, construction dust—and unfavourable meteorological conditions.
“Quick fixes will not deliver sustainable outcomes,” Yadav said, underlining the need for long-term policy consistency, technological upgrades, and behavioural change among citizens.
Focus on Vehicular Emissions
Addressing vehicular pollution, which remains one of the largest contributors to poor air quality in Delhi, the Minister stressed the importance of smart traffic management, particularly at 62 identified congestion hotspots across the city. Improved traffic flow, he said, can significantly reduce idling emissions and fuel wastage.
The meeting reviewed proposals for strict enforcement against polluting vehicles, including a special registration verification drive and the installation of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems at key border entry points to track non-compliant vehicles entering the city.
To reduce peak-hour congestion, staggered office timings were discussed as a potential demand-management measure. The meeting also deliberated on incentivising electric vehicle adoption, accelerating the expansion of charging infrastructure, introducing congestion charges in high-traffic zones, implementing smart parking solutions, and exploring a uniform vehicle registration policy across the NCR.
Yadav reiterated that public participation and behavioural change—such as reduced private vehicle usage and increased reliance on public transport—are essential to the success of these initiatives.
Industrial and Construction Pollution Under Scrutiny
On industrial pollution, officials informed the meeting that 227 out of 240 industrial estates in the NCR have already transitioned to Piped Natural Gas (PNG), a cleaner fuel alternative. However, unplanned industrial development and the regularisation of units operating outside designated industrial zones remain areas of concern.
The Environment Minister directed authorities to take strict action against illegally operating and non-conforming industrial units, including sealing where required. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued notices to 88 industrial units that have failed to install Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS). Closure actions against these units are scheduled to commence from January 23, 2026.
The management of Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste was another key agenda item. The meeting emphasised the need to designate dedicated C&D waste sites, enforce bans on demolition activities during peak pollution periods, and strengthen partnerships with recycler associations to ensure scientific waste disposal.
Road Dust and Urban Greening Measures
Road dust, a major contributor to PM10 pollution, received focused attention. Yadav stressed end-to-end paving of roads, plantation of local shrub varieties in a mission-mode approach, and large-scale greening initiatives involving the Eco Task Force, National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), and youth organisations.
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The redevelopment of over 3,300 kilometres of roads in Delhi is planned for the coming year, with dust abatement and traffic management integrated into project execution. The deployment of Mechanised Road Sweeping Machines (MRSMs) on an operational expenditure model was reviewed, with a clear directive to ensure that no diesel-based units are used. Handheld vacuum machines and litter pickers will be deployed on smaller roads and residential lanes.
Concluding the meeting, Yadav called for sustained inter-agency coordination, data-driven decision-making, and active citizen engagement to ensure that Delhi’s air quality management strategies deliver measurable and lasting results.
