Air Pollution Control Meeting in NCR

Summary of Key Points from the 28th Meeting of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

Date and Context: The 28th full commission meeting of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) was held on May 15, 2026, chaired by Rajesh Verma, focusing on air pollution prevention and control in the Delhi-NCR region.

---

Legal Framework and Regulations

• CAQM Act, 2021: The commission operates under this act, specifically referring to:
  • Section 12: Approval of Draft Directions No. 99 to implement a plan for preventing and controlling paddy stubble burning in 2026.
  • Section 11(2): Reorganization of the 'Monitoring & Identification' sub-committee to strengthen monitoring and compliance mechanisms.

---

Key Initiatives and Guidelines

• Paddy Stubble Burning:

  • The objective is to eliminate stubble burning incidents in NCR states.
  • States have prepared and updated state-specific action plans for the 2026 paddy harvesting season.

• Electric Vehicles (EVs):

  • Approval for Draft Directions No. 100: Phased registration of only L-5 category electric three-wheelers (passenger and goods) in Delhi-NCR to promote clean mobility and reduce vehicle emissions.
  • Timeline for implementation:
    • Jan 1, 2027: Delhi
    • Jan 1, 2028: Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar
    • Jan 1, 2029: Remaining NCR districts

• Pollution Control Certificates:

  • Draft Directions No. 101 mandates that only vehicles with valid Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC) will be given fuel, effective from October 1, 2026.

---

Statistical Data on Stubble Burning

• Punjab:
  • 8,986 incidents from April 1 to May 14, 2026, compared to 6,474 in the same period of 2025.
• Haryana:
  • 3,290 incidents in the same timeframe, up from 1,503 in 2025.

---

Air Quality Monitoring Initiatives

• Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS):
  • Proposal to establish 46 additional CAAQMS across NCR, increasing total to 157.
  • Monitoring stations to be set up every 25 sq km in Delhi and surrounding cities, and every 50 sq km in other districts.

---

Environmental Targets and Plans

• 2026-27 Greening Goals:

  • Target to plant approximately 4.6 crore trees, shrubs, and bamboo in NCR states, CAPFs, and educational institutions.

• Biomass Co-Firing:

  • Review of penalties on thermal power plants not meeting biomass co-firing targets during 2024-25.

---

Judicial and Regulatory Updates

• M.C. Mehta Case:

  • Compliance with the Supreme Court's order regarding the revised Environmental Compensation Charge (ECC) for freight vehicles entering Delhi.

• Environmental (Use of Crop Residues by Thermal Power Plants) Rules, 2023:

  • Environmental compensation exceeding ₹61.85 crore imposed on six non-compliant thermal power plants.

---

Action Plans and Monitoring

• Annual Action Plan 2026:

  • Developed by NCR states and GNCTD for air pollution control across various sectors including transport and waste management.

• Enforcement Task Force (ETF):

  • Inspections of 27,008 sites with 1,779 cases of shutdown orders issued for non-compliance across industries, construction, and demolition sites.

---

Conclusion

The meeting underscored a coordinated effort among NCR states to enforce stringent air quality measures, promote electric vehicle usage, and establish a robust monitoring framework to combat air pollution effectively. The CAQM remains committed to achieving significant reductions in pollution levels and enhancing environmental compliance across the region.