Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav Reviews Air Quality in Delhi-NCR, Directs States to Accelerate Implementation of Annual Action Plans.
New Delhi:
Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, chaired a high-level review meeting on air pollution in Delhi-NCR today, urging concerned State and UT authorities to expedite the on-ground implementation of all decisions taken in the previous five meetings to improve air quality. Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Cabinet Minister for Environment and Forests, Government of NCT of Delhi, was present during the meeting.
Yadav conducted a point-by-point review of ongoing initiatives, emphasizing the need for high-quality execution of action plans across multiple sectors, including road development and repair, dust control through end-to-end pavements, construction and demolition waste management, industrial compliance with emission standards, smart traffic management, public transport enhancement, solid waste management, and greening of open spaces.
Highlighting the importance of proactive planning, the Minister instructed all stakeholders to prepare detailed Annual Action Plans for the coming year, with time-bound execution through monthly and weekly targets. He announced that on-ground review meetings would soon be conducted to ensure effective implementation. These meetings, coordinated by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), will include discussions with Punjab and Haryana agriculture departments to tackle stubble burning, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development on urban development initiatives, and local bodies in NCR cities to address local pollution sources.
On industrial compliance, it was noted that delinquent units would be hand-held to encourage the accelerated installation of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) and Air Pollution Control Devices (APCDs). Strict action, including possible closure, will be taken against units failing to comply by 31 December 2025. Approximately 2,254 red-category industrial units—including metal, textiles, and food processing—have been mandated to install calibrated OCEMS and APCDs within the stipulated timeframe, with a standard operating procedure already issued.
Yadav also reviewed road development works, including pothole repairs, and directed NCR states to adhere to time-bound SOPs and employ app-based monitoring for real-time citizen feedback. The Minister called for intensive on-ground monitoring and deployment of Mechanical Road Sweeper Machines (MRSMs) to ensure proper dust control.
Addressing traffic congestion, Yadav highlighted 62 critical hotspots in Delhi requiring immediate action via smart traffic management solutions. Authorities were asked to remove encroachments, regulate illegal parking, deploy police during peak hours, and fast-track tenders for foot-over bridges. Similar plans are encouraged across NCR cities for visible improvements.
The meeting also reviewed public transport initiatives, with a focus on transitioning to electric vehicles. Currently, around 3,400 electric buses operate in Delhi-NCR, with plans to expand the fleet to over 5,000 by March 2026. The Minister also emphasized stricter action against below BS-IV commercial vehicles, noting that BS-III and below vehicles have been barred from entering Delhi since 1 November 2025.
Greening initiatives were also discussed, with the Minister directing officials to identify potential sites across NCR, involve public participation, and revive youth-led eco-clubs and green-warrior groups. Plantation drives on degraded forest land, greening of urban open spaces, and restoration of parks, wetlands, and water bodies are to be implemented this winter and continue over the next five years.
The review underscored a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to improving air quality. Senior officials from the Ministry, CAQM, CPCB, NCR state governments, and municipal authorities actively participated in the meeting.
