CAQM Conducts 175 Inspections Across NCR in Two Weeks; 25 Units Allowed to Resume Operations After Compliance Verification.
New Delhi:
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has intensified its enforcement drive across the National Capital Region (NCR), conducting 175 inspections between July 1 and July 13, 2026, while issuing 25 resumption orders to projects and units that were found compliant after verification.
The enforcement review was presented during the 135th meeting of the Enforcement Task Force (ETF) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas, held on July 20, 2026.
During the 14-day reporting period, CAQM’s Flying Squads carried out inspections at 17 Construction and Demolition (C&D) sites, 90 industrial units, and 68 Diesel Generator (DG) set-related locations, aimed at ensuring compliance with air pollution control norms.
Based on violations detected during the inspections, the Commission proposed closure of one project or industrial unit, sealing of 19 diesel generator sets, issuance of nine compliance directions, and imposition of Environmental Compensation (EC) in four cases.
The Enforcement Task Force also reviewed action taken on decisions made during its previous meeting and noted that all actionable cases related to industries, construction and demolition activities, and DG sets had been addressed by the concerned agencies.
Following successful compliance verification, 25 resumption orders were issued, including two in Delhi, 11 in Haryana, 10 in Uttar Pradesh, and two in Rajasthan, allowing the concerned projects and units to resume operations.
The Commission also reviewed its cumulative enforcement performance up to July 20, 2026. It noted that CAQM’s Flying Squads have conducted inspections at 27,925 industrial units, projects, and other entities since the enforcement mechanism was introduced.
As a result of these inspections, 1,803 closure directions have been issued. Of these, 1,446 units have been permitted to resume operations after meeting compliance requirements. Additionally, 126 cases have been referred to the respective State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for final decisions, while 231 entities remain under examination for possible resumption.
The ETF also reviewed road redevelopment works carried out by the Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam under CAQM’s Standard Framework for Road Redevelopment. The inspection covered 42 road stretches extending nearly nine kilometres, comprising roads with a Right of Way (RoW) of less than 10 metres.
According to the Commission, all inspected roads were found to have complete end-to-end paving, demonstrating full compliance with the prescribed framework. CAQM emphasized that adoption of the Standard Framework by all road-owning agencies across Delhi-NCR is essential for reducing road dust pollution and directed that all ongoing and future road redevelopment projects strictly follow the prescribed guidelines.
Reiterating its commitment to improving air quality across the region, the Commission called for stronger enforcement mechanisms, faster compliance verification, better coordination among implementing agencies, and strict adherence to pollution control norms. It also stressed the need to enhance inspection efficiency, ensure accountability, and expedite enforcement action in priority sectors, including industrial emissions, diesel generator sets, and construction and demolition activities.
