Air Quality Management Enforcement Meeting

Enforcement Actions and Air Quality Management in NCR

Overview:

• The 138th meeting of the Enforcement Task Force (ETF) of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) was held on August 31, 2026, focusing on enforcement actions, compliance status, and inspections in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Reporting Period:

• The review covered the reporting period from August 8, 2026, to August 23, 2026.

Inspection Data:

• A total of 121 inspections were conducted by the flying squad during the reporting period, categorized as follows:
  • Construction and Demolition (C&D) sites: 10 inspections
  • Industrial sector: 56 inspections
  • Diesel Generator (DG) sets: 20 inspections

Compliance Actions:

• Based on the inspection reports, the following actions were proposed:
  • Closure of 4 projects/industries (related to C&D sites)
  • Sealing of 17 DG sets
  • Issuance of 7 compliance orders/instructions
  • Environmental Compensation (EC) proposed in 5 cases

Compliance Review:

• The ETF reviewed the compliance status from the previous meeting (137th) and confirmed that actions had been taken on all actionable cases in the industrial sector, C&D sector, and DG sets.
• 9 restart orders were issued post-compliance verification, involving:
  • 2 industrial units
  • 7 C&D projects
• Restart orders were issued state-wise: 1 in Delhi, 6 in Haryana, and 2 in Uttar Pradesh.

Cumulative Enforcement Statistics:

• By August 31, 2026, the CAQM's flying squad had inspected 28,397 units/projects/institutions in NCR.
• 1,823 closure orders were issued, with 1,473 restart orders granted after compliance verification.
• 126 cases were referred to the respective State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for final decision.
• 224 entities are under investigation for potential restart orders.

Recommendations and Focus Areas:

• The CAQM emphasized the need to strengthen enforcement, ensure timely compliance verification, and enhance coordination among implementing agencies.
• Continuous focus on rapid enforcement actions, stringent compliance monitoring, and proactive inspections in priority areas such as:
  • Industrial units
  • Construction and development activities
  • DG sets
  • Road construction works

Goal:

• The overall objective is to effectively reduce air pollution in the NCR through robust enforcement and compliance mechanisms.