CAQM Reviews NCR Air Pollution Enforcement; 150 Inspections Conducted in 15-Day Period.
New Delhi:
The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has reviewed the enforcement and compliance status across the National Capital Region (NCR), with 150 inspections carried out during the 15-day reporting period from August 24 to September 7, 2026.
The review was conducted at the 139th meeting of the Enforcement Task Force (ETF) of CAQM, held on September 14, 2026. The meeting assessed enforcement measures, inspections and compliance across key pollution-generating sectors, including construction and demolition (C&D) activities, industrial units and diesel generator (DG) sets.
150 inspections carried out across key sectors
According to the review, the 150 inspections conducted during the reporting period comprised:
7 inspections at Construction and Demolition (C&D) sites
98 inspections in the industrial sector
45 inspections related to DG sets
The inspections were part of CAQM’s continuing enforcement efforts aimed at ensuring compliance with prescribed air pollution control norms across NCR.
Special inspection drive conducted in Nuh
A special enforcement drive was also conducted in Nuh, Haryana, on September 3. Eight teams of CAQM’s Flying Squads, in coordination with the District Administration, Police and officers of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), inspected 35 premises.
Of the premises inspected, 13 were found compliant, while 7 units were found locked. These locked premises are to be re-inspected by the concerned State Pollution Control Board.
Following the inspection, various enforcement actions were recommended. These include:
Personal hearing in 1 case
Sealing of 1 DG set
Issuance of orders in 7 cases
Imposition of Environmental Compensation (EC) in 6 cases
Closure and sealing actions proposed
Based on violations reported by the concerned sectors, CAQM has proposed enforcement action in several cases. The measures include the closure of three C&D projects and one industrial unit.
The Commission has also proposed the sealing of 25 DG sets across C&D sites, industrial units and other establishments.
In addition, orders and directions for compliance have been proposed in:
1 C&D case
2 industrial cases
3 DG-related cases involving 10 DG sets
Environmental Compensation has also been proposed in two industrial cases.
Other cases have been earmarked for appropriate action, including issuing letters to project proponents, carrying out re-inspections and initiating prosecution proceedings. Some cases are also to be forwarded to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), wherever applicable.
Six resumption orders issued after previous ETF meeting
The ETF also reviewed the status of resumption orders issued following its previous meeting.
As of September 10, 2026, six resumption orders had been issued. These comprised:
1 industrial unit
5 C&D sites
State-wise, three resumption orders were issued in Haryana and three in Uttar Pradesh.
Over 28,500 entities inspected cumulatively
The meeting also reviewed CAQM’s updated cumulative enforcement status as of September 14, 2026.
The Commission’s Flying Squads have so far conducted inspections at 28,547 units, projects and entities across NCR.
Following these inspections:
1,829 Closure Directions have been issued.
1,479 Resumption Orders have subsequently been issued after verification of compliance.
126 cases have been transferred to the respective State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) or the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for final decisions.
224 entities remain under examination for issuance of resumption orders.
CAQM stresses continued enforcement
The Commission reiterated the need to further strengthen enforcement mechanisms, ensure timely verification of compliance and maintain close coordination among implementing agencies.
CAQM emphasised that enforcement action should be taken expeditiously, with strict monitoring of compliance and continued inspections in priority sectors. Industrial units, C&D activities and DG sets remain among the sectors receiving particular attention as part of efforts to mitigate air pollution across the NCR.
The latest review comes as CAQM continues to monitor compliance and enforcement measures across the region, with inspections and corrective actions forming a key part of its strategy to ensure adherence to prescribed air quality norms.
