64 Pollution Violations Flagged in NCR as Air Quality Task Force Reviews Enforcement

The ETF meeting was held on Friday to review enforcement actions and inspections undertaken across the National Capital Region (NCR) for the reporting period from March 27 to April 10.

During this 15-day period, 162 inspections were carried out and 64 violations were reported across key sectors, according to an official statement.

The inspections were conducted by the flying squads of the Commission and included 25 inspections at Construction and Demolition (C&D) sites, 28 inspections in the industrial sector, and 109 inspections related to Diesel Generator (DG) sets. A total of 64 violations were reported, including 14 from C&D sites, eight from the industrial sector, and 42 from DG sets.

Based on the inspection reports, closure has been proposed for nine units, sealing of DG sets for 18 units, issuance of show-cause notices (SCNs) for 11 units, and environmental compensation (EC) for six units.

The Task Force also reviewed actions taken since the last ETF meeting held on April 2. It noted that a total of 46 closure, SCN, sealing, and EC letters have been issued during this period, including nine from the industrial sector, six from C&D sites, and 31 from DG sets.

The Task Force further took note of special enforcement drives, including inspections related to road dust mitigation conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram on April 7, during which multiple zones were inspected and 126 violations were reported.

The municipal authorities have been directed to take necessary corrective actions, including the issuance of SCNs in cases of repeated non-compliance, the statement said.

The Task Force highlighted the need for focused enforcement in priority sectors, particularly DG sets (in line with Direction No. 76), C&D activities, industrial emissions, and road dust management. It emphasised strengthening inter-agency coordination and expediting follow-up actions to ensure effective compliance on the ground.

Further, the updated cumulative enforcement status as on April 17, 2026, was reviewed. It was noted that a total of 26,834 units, projects, and entities have been inspected so far by the flying squads of the Commission.

Based on these inspections, 1,765 closure directions have been issued, out of which 1,349 resumption orders have been granted upon verification of compliance.

A total of 123 cases have been transferred to the respective State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for final decisions, while 293 entities remain under examination for consideration of resumption orders.

The Commission reiterated the need for robust enforcement, improved data integrity, strengthened inter-agency coordination, and strict adherence to prescribed environmental norms to ensure effective abatement of air pollution across the NCR.

It emphasised continued focus on enhancing inspection efficiency, ensuring accountability at all levels, and expediting enforcement actions to achieve sustained improvements in air quality.

- IANS