New Delhi: Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday chaired a high-level meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to review the national capital’s air pollution mitigation plan and finalise additional measures ahead of the winter season.
The meeting focused on progress of measures already undertaken, hotspot-specific interventions, enforcement, vehicular emissions, dust and waste management, industrial pollution, public transport and greater citizen participation.
Yadav called for time-bound and coordinated action across agencies and directed that Jan Bhagidari events be organised at Delhi’s 37 identified air pollution hotspots by October 10. Actionable measures are to be identified for each hotspot and their implementation monitored through regular field reviews involving public representatives and other stakeholders.
The Union Minister also called for coordinated action on pollution arising from agricultural activities, including discussions involving the Union Agriculture Minister and Agriculture Ministers of NCR states. Action plans for NCR areas are to be finalised before October 10.
He stressed that enforcement across different sectors and pollution sources should be coordinated, while awareness campaigns should ensure that citizens understand the measures being implemented and participate actively in improving air quality.
CM Gupta said Delhi had undertaken several measures to improve air quality but emphasised that decisions and action points must translate into effective implementation on the ground. She called for stronger coordination among agencies, particularly in enforcement and traffic management, and greater use of technology, including cameras at construction sites.
CM Gupta also highlighted the need for technological solutions to reduce emissions from cremation grounds and greater awareness about the availability of electric cremation facilities, including for economically weaker sections.
‘No PUCC, No Fuel’ campaign at 500 fuel stations
As part of the winter strategy, the meeting decided to implement the ‘No PUCC, No Fuel’ initiative in mission mode through a city-wide awareness and enforcement campaign at all 500 ANPR-enabled fuel stations in Delhi. Action will be taken against fuel stations that violate the requirement.
The authorities will also promote public transport and last-mile connectivity. A campaign to encourage adoption of the Delhi Metro Sarthi App will be conducted from October 1 to 10, including download camps in association with RWAs and public representatives.
The meeting was informed that last-mile connectivity is available at all 228 Delhi Metro stations, while the city’s bus fleet has increased to 6,840, including 5,088 e-buses.
Hotspot and traffic management measures
Public representatives will regularly visit air-quality and traffic hotspots along with officials, RWAs, traders and traffic police.
According to the Delhi Government, 42 hotspots have already been rectified, with another eight targeted for completion by October. One-way traffic and decongestion trials will also be undertaken at selected hotspots in consultation with the Delhi Traffic Police.
Citizens will be encouraged to report encroachments, illegal parking and dumping points. The government said eight identified road stretches have been made signal-free, while the remaining seven are targeted for completion by October 2026.
Road redevelopment and dust control
The meeting directed authorities to accelerate road redevelopment and dust mitigation measures. Delhi has completed redevelopment work on 1,193 km of roads, with the remaining work targeted for completion by November 15.
Authorities were also directed to ensure end-to-end paving of footpaths, with emphasis on walkability and reduction of dust. Complaints related to these measures are to be resolved within 72 hours under the prescribed standard operating procedure.
Zero tolerance for open waste burning
The winter action plan also places emphasis on preventing open waste and biomass burning.
The government will intensify deep cleaning, waste management and zero-burning measures through ward-level monitoring, stronger market waste collection and enforcement of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026.
The number of Material Recovery and Sorting Centres (MRSMs) has increased to 98 from 76 last year, according to the Delhi Government.
A city-wide ‘Zero Burning’ pledge campaign will be conducted, while dedicated ward- and district/subdivision-level monitoring teams are to be deployed by October 15 to prevent waste burning.
Heating booths will also be established on a pilot basis during winter, with special attention to unauthorised regularised colonies and JJ clusters.
Greening and construction dust measures
The meeting reviewed efforts to increase green cover and improve the survival of plantations in brown areas. Delhi Government informed the meeting that 71 lakh plantations have already been undertaken and 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 sanction.
The government will impose restrictions on dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction activities from November 1 to January 31, while a complete ban on construction and demolition activities will be enforced from December 10 to January 20.
Winter restrictions and electric mobility push
The meeting also finalised several advance winter measures, including restrictions on polluting vehicles, doubled parking charges, staggered office timings and arrangements for 50 per cent work from home.
From November 1, 2026, entry of vehicles registered outside Delhi and below BS-VI emission standards will be restricted, except for CNG and electric vehicles.
Authorities will also promote Delhi’s EV Policy 2026, including higher incentives for scrapping old vehicles. A mission-mode registration drive under the Parivartan Scheme will be undertaken, supported by Jan Bhagidari camps during October and November.
Industrial pollution monitoring to be strengthened
The action plan includes stronger enforcement against industrial pollution, including operationalisation of an AI-enabled Command and Control Centre.
The number of monitoring stations will be increased from 47 to 60, while 334 enforcement teams will be deployed to take action against non-conforming and polluting industries.
The authorities will also strengthen citizen participation, grievance redressal mechanisms and daily air quality index bulletins, along with coordinated NCR-level airshed action.
The meeting brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Commission for Air Quality Management, Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, MCD, NDMC, DDA, Delhi Transport Department, Delhi Metro, Delhi Police and PWD.
[DD News]