Air pollution does not recognise State boundaries, coordinated action required: Union Minister

NSUI members and supporters stage a protest against rise in pollution in New Delhi on November 12, 2026. | Photo Credit: Shashi Shekhar Kashyap Saying that air pollution does not recognise State boundaries, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Saturday (November 14, 2026) emphasised the need for the coordinated implementation of pollution control measures across the National Capital Region (NCR), with real-time monitoring through Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs) and direct accountability of field officers for violations.At a review meeting held to assess measures undertaken by Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to mitigate air pollution in Delhi-NCR, he directed all agencies to move beyond planning and ensure rigorous, time-bound, and coordinated enforcement on the ground.The Minister directed State governments to nominate secretary-level officials for seven cities in Haryana, four cities in U.P., and four cities in Rajasthan to make them responsible for the implementation of pollution control measures through field visits and report to Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on a weekly basis.Targeting polluting vehiclesThe Minister directed all concerned States to install Automatic Number-plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at fuel stations, integrated with VAHAN and Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) databases, for intensified action against old and polluting vehicles, failing which CAQM would initiate criminal prosecution against delinquent Transport Department officials after November 30.The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was directed to immediately seal the identified 191 non-conforming polluting industries, which had not even placed orders for the installation of air pollution control devices (APCDs) despite repeated directions.Calling for strict implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), Mr. Yadav called on NCR States to adopt Delhi’s hotspot-focused winter action plan, covering traffic management, work-from-home measures, construction restrictions and the prevention of open burning. Noting that only 3,221 km of the targeted 5,480 km of roads had been redeveloped, he directed road-owning agencies to prioritise pothole repairs, damaged footpaths, central verges, and end-to-end paving as per the CAQM framework, along with AI-based videographic surveys.For traffic decongestion, the Union Minister directed immediate action at the 233 identified congestion points across NCR, and fresh assessments by the respective States. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi was asked to complete the installation of multi-lane free flow systems at 154 Delhi border entry points by December 31.Mr. Yadav said that real-time inputs from sensors, cameras, and satellites must be used alongside physical inspections to identify violations and ensure swift enforcement. “Coordinated efforts, field-level accountability, and visible action on the ground are essential to effectively address the challenge of air pollution in Delhi-NCR,” he said. Published - November 14, 2026 09:42 pm IST