CAQM Reviews Air Quality Regulations in NCR; 197 Inspections Conducted in 17 Days

The 140th meeting of the Enforcement Task Force (ETF) of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for the National Capital Region (NCR) and its surrounding areas was held on October 1, 2026. During this meeting, a detailed review was conducted regarding the implementation of regulations, inspections, and compliance status in the NCR between September 8, 2026, and September 24, 2026.

According to the report, a total of 197 inspections were carried out during this 17-day period. These included 111 inspections in industrial areas, 76 related to Diesel Generator (DG) sets, and 10 at construction and demolition (C&D) sites. The industrial inspections also included 22 inspections conducted under a special drive. Based on these probes, violations were found in 85 cases, comprising 49 industrial, 28 DG set, and 8 C&D cases.

Several actions have been proposed based on these violations, including the closure of 4 C&D projects and 1 industrial unit, the sealing of 28 DG sets, and the imposition of Environmental Compensation (EC) in 10 cases. Additionally, steps such as issuing directions for compliance and sending letters to promoters have been proposed in 17 cases.

The meeting also provided information on a special inspection drive conducted in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, on September 15, 2026. There, 22 locations were inspected, of which only 5 were found to be compliant. Following this drive, it has been suggested to close 4 units, seal 1 DG set, and impose EC in 4 cases. Meanwhile, on September 29, 2026, 21 industrial units in Loni, Ghaziabad, were inspected, where all 21 units were found to be in violation of regulations. These cases included operating without a valid Consent to Operate (CTO), operating without chimneys or air pollution control devices, and the use of prohibited fuels.

An overall review of the situation revealed that the commission's flying squads have inspected a total of 28,744 units, projects, and entities in the NCR so far. Based on these, closure instructions were issued for 1,831, of which 1,488 were allowed to resume work after complying with the rules. Currently, 127 cases have been referred to the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB) or the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), while restart orders for 216 entities remain pending.

The commission emphasized the need to strengthen enforcement actions in priority areas such as industrial units, construction activities, and DG sets, as well as the need for better coordination between the concerned agencies to reduce air pollution in the NCR.