New Delhi: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav reviewed Delhi’s air pollution mitigation plan with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday. The meeting focused on time-bound action, coordinated enforcement and measures for the coming winter season.
The high-level meeting assessed steps already taken by the Delhi Government. It also examined progress on the ground and additional measures needed before and during winter. Delhi Environment and Forest Minister Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Public Works Department Minister Pravesh Sahib Singh also attended.
Yadav called for Jan Bhagidari events at Delhi’s 37 identified hotspots by October 10. He directed officials to set clear action points for each hotspot and monitor their implementation closely.
Public representatives will visit these locations and review pollution control measures on the ground. The minister said area-specific action would help address different pollution sources through a combined effort.
Delhi air pollution needs coordinated action
Yadav also called for coordinated action on pollution linked to agricultural activities. He proposed discussions with the Union Agriculture Minister and Agriculture Ministers of NCR states.
He directed authorities to turn discussions with Delhi and other NCR agencies into concrete action points. The action plans for NCR areas are to be finalised before October 10.
The minister also stressed coordinated enforcement across sectors and pollution sources. He called for wider public awareness so citizens understand the measures and participate in improving air quality.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the Delhi Government had taken several steps to improve air quality. She stressed that decisions and action points must translate into effective implementation on the ground.
Gupta called for stronger coordination among agencies, especially for enforcement and traffic management. She also sought greater use of technology, including cameras at construction sites to monitor compliance.
The Chief Minister highlighted technological options to reduce emissions from cremation grounds. She also called for greater awareness of electric cremation facilities and their availability to economically weaker sections.
Delhi air pollution measures target winter sources
The meeting finalised an outcome-oriented strategy for the coming winter. The plan targets vehicular emissions, road and construction dust, waste and biomass burning, industrial emissions, public transport, greening, and pollution and traffic hotspots.
Citizens, Resident Welfare Associations, market associations, industries and public representatives will participate in the campaign. The strategy includes several time-bound interventions.
Under the ‘No PUCC, No Fuel’ initiative, authorities will launch a city-wide awareness and enforcement campaign. The measure will cover all 500 ANPR-enabled fuel stations, with action against defaulting pumps.
To promote public transport, Delhi will run a campaign for the Delhi Metro Sarthi App from October 1 to 10. Download camps will be organised with RWAs and public representatives.
Officials said last-mile connectivity is available at all 228 Metro stations. Delhi’s bus fleet has also reached 6,840, including 5,088 e-buses.
For air-quality and traffic hotspots, public representatives will conduct regular field visits with officials, RWAs, traders and traffic police. The Delhi Government said 42 hotspots have been rectified, with eight more targeted by October.
In consultation with Delhi Traffic Police, authorities will conduct one-way traffic and decongestion trials at hotspots. Citizens will also be encouraged to report encroachments, illegal parking and dumping points.
The Delhi Government said 8 road stretches have been made signal-free. The remaining 7 are targeted for completion by October 2026.
Dust, waste burning and greening measures
Authorities were directed to accelerate road redevelopment. The Delhi Government said 1,193 km had been completed, while the balance is targeted for completion by November 15.
The meeting also stressed complete paving of footpaths to improve walkability and reduce dust. Complaints are to be closed within 72 hours under the standard operating procedure.
For waste management, authorities will intensify deep cleaning and zero-burning measures. Ward-level monitoring, stronger market waste collection and enforcement of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 will also be strengthened.
Delhi has increased MRSMs to 98 from 76 last year, according to the Delhi Government. A city-wide ‘Zero Burning’ pledge campaign will also be conducted.
Dedicated ward and district or subdivision monitoring teams will be deployed by October 15. They will focus on preventing waste burning, including in unauthorised regularised colonies and JJ clusters.
The winter plan also includes heating booths on a pilot basis. The meeting stressed improving the survival of plantations and greening brown areas.
The Delhi Government said it has completed 71 lakh plantations. It also said 433 of the 434 acres of identified brown areas have been greened.
For construction and demolition waste, registration on the Malba App will be made a mandatory condition for building plan approval. A ban on dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction will apply from November 1 to January 31.
A complete ban on construction and demolition activities will apply from December 10 to January 20.
Winter protocol and industrial enforcement
Advance winter measures include restrictions on polluting vehicles, doubled parking charges, staggered office timings and 50% work-from-home arrangements.
From November 1, 2026, entry of vehicles registered outside Delhi and below BS-VI emission standards will be restricted. CNG and electric vehicles will be exempted from the restriction.
The meeting also decided to promote EV Policy 2026 and increase incentives for scrapping old vehicles. A mission-mode registration drive for the Parivartan Scheme will be supported by Jan Bhagidari camps in October and November.
For industrial pollution, authorities will strengthen enforcement and operationalise an AI-enabled Command and Control Centre. Monitoring stations will increase from 47 to 60.
A total of 334 enforcement teams will be deployed to act against non-conforming polluting industries. The plan also seeks stronger citizen participation, grievance redressal, daily AQI bulletins and coordinated NCR-level airshed action.
The meeting was attended by MoEFCC Secretary Tanmay Kumar and Commission for Air Quality Management Chairman Rajesh Verma. Senior officials from MoEFCC and the Delhi Government also participated.
Officials from CPCB, DPCC, MCD, NDMC, DDA, Delhi Transport Department, Delhi Metro, Delhi Police and PWD also attended the meeting.
