Bhupender Yadav directs authorities to accelerate implementation of annual action plans on air pollution management

New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): Chairing a high-level review meeting on Air Pollution in Delhi on Wednesday, Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav asked all concerned State/UT authorities to expedite the on-ground implementation of all decisions taken in previous five meetings, to improve Air Quality in Delhi-NCR.

According to an official statement from the ministry, Delhi Minister for Environment, Forest and Wildlife, Manjinder Singh Sirsa was present during the meeting.

Reviewing each action-point minutely, Yadav emphasised the need for high-quality implementation of action plans in Delhi-NCR across all identified categories. The areas included accelerated Road Development and Repair, Dust Control by ensuring end-to-end pavements, Construction and Demolition Waste Management, Industry compliance to Emission Standards, Smart Traffic Management, boosting Public Transport, legacy Solid Waste Management, and Greening of open spaces.

The Minister requested each stakeholder to prepare detailed Annual Action Plans for the coming year, to control pollution generation at source.

"The year-long roadmaps would ensure proactive planning toward improving air quality in the NCR," the Union Minister noted, according to the official statement.

Yadav also directed that on-ground review meetings would soon be held to ensure that the action plans are being implemented in the right earnest. The meetings, coordinated by the CAQM, would include discussions with Agriculture Departments of Governments of Punjab and Haryana on stubble burning; with Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Development on new initiatives for planned urban development; with local bodies of NCR cities on tackling local contributors of pollution.

During the meeting, issues were taken up one-by-one and the progress was reviewed. On the issue of Industry's compliance to emission standards in Delhi-NCR, a decision was taken that delinquent units would be handheld to encourage them to voluntarily initiate accelerated installment of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) and Air Pollution Control Devices (APCD).

Strict Action will be taken against units failing to comply by end of December, even leading to closure directions.

Around 2,254 industrial units having high potential for causing pollution like metal, textiles, food/ food processing and other red-category industries have been mandated to install calibrated and verified OCEMS, along with APCDs by December 31.
The Minister reviewed Road Development works, including pothole repairs, and instructed NCR States to strictly adopt time-bound SOPs for completing pending works. App-based monitoring was emphasized to enable real-time citizen feedback and corresponding corrective action by authorities. The Union Minister emphasised on ensuring quality road construction, adhering to CAQM design framework including end-to-end pavements and proper drainage.

On Traffic Congestion, it was emphasized that 62 identified hotspots in Delhi require urgent action through smart traffic management solutions by Delhi Police, and that short-term measures may be immediately deployed to resolve the traffic issues at the earliest.

The review meeting highlighted the ongoing transition of the Public Transport fleet to electric vehicles, with around 3,400 buses currently in operation and expected to increase to over 5,000 by March next year. End-to-end connectivity based on passenger load in high population density areas of Delhi-NCR was emphasised.

The Minister also called for targeted action against the BS-IV commercial vehicles. It was informed that BS-III and below have been stopped from entering Delhi with effect from November 1, 2025.

The Minister instructed officials to identify potential Greening Sites across NCR and ensure public participation in mapping and execution. Plantation on degraded forest land, greening of open spaces, and removal of encroachments from urban parks, water bodies, and wetlands was emphasised. Education Departments of NCR States were asked to revive eco-clubs and green-warrior groups, to enhance youth-led greening efforts and promote community conservation.

Minister Yadav also reviewed progress made over the last five meetings, which included a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. (ANI)