Union environment minister reviews air pollution action plan for Delhi-NCR

New Delhi, May 26 (PTI) Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday emphasised the need for accelerated implementation, stronger inter-agency coordination, and strict enforcement to ensure a substantial decline in air pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR region before the onset of winter.

He also underlined that air pollution mitigation requires sustained and coordinated action by all stakeholders, and implementation gaps must be identified and addressed promptly.

“The coming months are crucial for Delhi’s air quality management. Timely completion of planned interventions, strict enforcement, and coordinated action on the ground are essential to protect public health and improve the quality of life for citizens,” Yadav said.

The Union minister

held a meeting to review the progress of ongoing measures aimed at improving air quality in the region, with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and senior Delhi government officials in attendance.

Yadav also reviewed road-dust mitigation measures and noted the need for a more focused approach to meet annual targets for road redevelopment and address delays in planning, tendering, issuance of work orders and supply-chain disruptions.

The minister urged the Delhi government to intensify road-cleaning operations and ensure deployment of 78 large and medium mechanised road sweeping machines, along with 1,000 litter pickers by September 2026, as proposed earlier.

During the meeting, Yadav highlighted the existing gap of nearly 1,000 tonnes per day in processing capacity for construction and demolition waste.

To tackle this, he directed establishment of additional processing facilities by December 2026.

Yadav also called for intensified inspection of industries operating in non-conforming areas and directed authorities to take appropriate action for relocation, regularisation, and closure of such units.

He also advised the Delhi government to create task forces comprising political and official representatives to look into air pollution hotspots across the capital.

The teams may coordinate with respective agencies and conduct monthly reviews to closely monitor implementation and ensure accountability and adherence to timeline.

“Air pollution control requires collective responsibility and continuous action at every level. The Centre remains committed to working closely with the Delhi government and all stakeholders to ensure cleaner air for the people of Delhi,” Yadav said. PTI ALC ARB ARB