NCR Air Pollution Control: 191 Industrial Units Face Sealing, 15 Cities Get Accountability

The news

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Saturday directed a range of anti-pollution measures for the National Capital Region, including the sealing of 191 non-conforming industrial units and the nomination of Secretary-level officials in 15 cities to ensure direct accountability for implementation. The directions were issued at a high-level review meeting a day after Delhi’s air quality deteriorated to near the severe category.

The Central Pollution Control Board was directed to immediately seal 191 industries that had neither installed Air Pollution Control Devices nor placed work orders despite repeated directions, and to issue show-cause notices. State governments were asked to nominate Secretary-level officials for seven cities in Haryana, four in Uttar Pradesh and four in Rajasthan; these officials will conduct field visits and report weekly to the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas. The ministry requested CAQM to issue notices to non-performing officers.

The accountability push follows the suspension of an executive engineer of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram on November 4 for lapses in road sweeping and dust mitigation. CAQM had earlier directed the MCG Commissioner to file a complaint against the engineer, and on November 12 the commissioner wrote to the District Attorney to initiate prosecution proceedings. Inspections in Gurugram had detected 258 violations, including visible dust on roads and accumulation of construction waste, of which 174 pertained to MCG and 84 to the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority.

Yadav also directed CAQM to initiate criminal prosecution against delinquent transport department officials who failed to install Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems to monitor old and polluting vehicles. On road dust mitigation, the minister noted that only 3,221 km of a targeted 5,480 km of roads had been redeveloped, and called for physical inspection of over 3,000 active construction and demolition sites, timely lifting of waste, and digital tracking through Integrated Command and Control Centres.

What emission limit applies to polluting industries?

A February direction of the CAQM prescribed a particulate matter emission limit of 50 micrograms per cubic metre for 17 highly polluting categories of industries, including food processing, textiles and metals. Over 2,000 industries were identified for compliance under that order.

How will officer accountability work?

Secretary-level officials nominated for 15 cities will undertake field visits and report to CAQM on a weekly basis. The ministry requested CAQM to issue notices to non-performing officers. The suspension of a Gurugram municipal engineer on November 4, following a CAQM direction, illustrates the enforcement mechanism already in use.

What progress has been made on road dust and waste?

Against a target of 5,480 km of roads, only 3,221 km had been redeveloped. The minister directed road-owning agencies to prioritise pothole repairs, damaged footpaths and end-to-end paving, and to use AI-based videographic surveys. Over 3,000 active construction and demolition sites are to be physically inspected, and waste tracking from collection to processing through ICCCs is to be ensured.