CAQM Detects 85 Violations in NCR Pollution Crackdown, Proposes Closures
NEW DELHI — The Commission for Air Quality Management reviewed enforcement actions and crackdowns against environmental violators across Delhi-NCR during an enforcement task force meeting on Thursday, after the region's air quality slipped to the "moderate" category ahead of the winter spike. An official confirmed on Friday that the commission reviewed compliance data recorded between September 8 and September 24.
Enforcement teams carried out 197 inspections across the National Capital Region during the review window. These operations included 111 inspections of industrial units, 76 checks on diesel generator sets, 10 site visits to construction and demolition projects, and 22 special inspection drives.
Authorities detected environmental violations in 85 cases during the drive. Following the findings, officials proposed closing four construction and demolition projects and one industrial unit. Enforcement teams also moved to seal 28 diesel generator sets and issued formal compliance directions in 17 cases.
An official stated that environmental compensation was proposed in 10 cases to penalise violators. The enforcement framework also initiated follow-up measures, including scheduled re-inspections, formal referrals to regional pollution-control authorities, and allied enforcement actions.
The task force also assessed the results of targeted regional drives. In Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, officials reviewed an inspection drive conducted on September 15, where five premises were found to be compliant and one had already been sealed. Authorities proposed action against multiple other units in Hapur, including the sealing and closure of diesel generator sets.
In another targeted operation on September 29, teams inspected 21 industrial units in Loni, Ghaziabad, and found every single unit non-compliant. Violations in Loni included operating industrial furnaces without adequate stacks or required air-pollution-control devices, operating without a valid No Objection Certificate, burning unapproved fuels such as coal, and maintaining deficient diesel generator sets and waste-processing facilities. Action was taken against all non-compliant units.
Following the review, the CAQM emphasised the need for sustained field inspections, timely verification of sites, and closer coordination among regional agencies to curb rising air pollution levels across the NCR.
