Centre fixes accountability for NCR air, orders sealing of 191 units

After Delhi's air quality plummeted to nearly severe levels, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav convened an emergency review meeting on Saturday. In his directive, Yadav emphasized the need to hold accountable those responsible for implementing anti-pollution measures across the National Capital Region (NCR). States were instructed to appoint Secretary-level officials who would perform field visits, report to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and Adjoining Areas, and oversee the execution of pollution control measures on a weekly basis. The ministry has also requested the CAQM to issue notices to non-performing officers.

The call for accountability stems from the suspension of an executive engineer from Gurugram's Municipal Corporation (MCG) for failing to implement road sweeping and dust mitigation measures. Following a hearing on November 3, the CAQM directed the MCG Commissioner to file a complaint against the engineer before a Judicial Magistrate.

The engineer was subsequently suspended on November 4 by the Department of Urban Local Bodies, Haryana. The MCG Commissioner subsequently wrote to the District Attorney, MCG, to examine the issue and initiate prosecution proceedings before a competent court.

CAQM's investigation in Gurugram City revealed 258 violations, with 174 attributed to the MCG and 84 to the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority. Citizens had also reported violations via social media. Dust, a significant contributor to particulate matter 10 (micrometers) pollution and secondary pollutants, was a major concern.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was ordered to seal 191 polluting industries that either lacked Air Pollution Control Devices (APCD) or had failed to place work orders despite repeated directives. Yadav directed the CAQM to initiate criminal proceedings against "delinquent" transport department officials who have not installed Automatic Number Plate Registration systems to monitor and intensify action against old and polluting vehicles.

With winter pollution intensifying, Yadav urged all agencies to move beyond planning and prioritize rigorous, time-bound, and coordinated enforcement. On October 30, the CPCB had directed state pollution control boards of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi to take action against industrial units that had not installed APCDs or placed orders for them.

Over 2,000 industries were identified for compliance. Industrial emissions pose a significant pollution threat during the winter season. In response to the rising air pollution levels, particularly after paddy straw fires in Punjab, CAQM officials have conducted field visits in Punjab to assess crop residue management, machinery deployment, and fire monitoring.

Yadav also reported that out of 5,480 km of targeted roads, only 3,221 km had been redeveloped. He instructed road-owning agencies to prioritize pothole repairs, damaged footpaths, central verges, and end-to-end paving in accordance with the CAQM framework. Additionally, he called for physical inspections of over 3,000 active construction and demolition sites, timely removal of waste from secondary collection points, functionality of recycling plants, and digital tracking of waste from collection to processing.