At the 141st meeting of its Enforcement Task Force (ETF), held on 16.10.2026, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) took stock of enforcement actions, inspection findings and the state of compliance across the National Capital Region (NCR).
Over the 15-day reporting window from 25.09.2026 to 09.10.2026, 124 inspections in all were reported: six at Construction and Demolition (C&D) sites, 54 in the industrial sector and 64 relating to Diesel Generator (DG) sets. The inspections led to 55 reported violations, of which five were at C&D sites, 35 in the industrial sector and 15 linked to DG sets.
A range of enforcement actions has been proposed on the basis of these violations. They include shutting down two C&D projects and three industrial units; sealing 12 units in the industrial and DG sectors; and issuing compliance orders or directions in one C&D case, five industrial cases and one DG-related case. Further proposed steps include levying Environmental Compensation (EC), carrying out re-inspections, referring cases to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), and sending advisories and letters to project proponents and the authorities concerned.
The ETF also went over the action taken on cases taken up at its 140th meeting. It assessed the progress of measures such as closure, sealing of DG sets, issue of EC letters and advisories, referral of cases to CPCB/SPCBs and re-inspection. Resumption orders issued since the last meeting were also reviewed by the Task Force. As on 15.10.2026, three resumption orders had been granted, all of them for C&D sites. Two of these were in Haryana and one in Uttar Pradesh. Three cases were also passed on to the relevant SPCBs or authorities for a final decision. They consisted of one industrial case and two C&D cases — one from Delhi and two from Haryana.
The ETF examined the updated cumulative enforcement record of the Commission’s Flying Squads. As on 16.10.2026, the Flying Squads had inspected 28,868 units, projects and entities throughout the NCR. These inspections had led to the issue of 1,837 Closure Directions. Out of these, 1,491 Resumption Orders had been granted after compliance was verified. Another 130 cases had been sent to the respective SPCBs or the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for a final decision, and 216 entities were still awaiting resumption orders.
The ETF further reviewed where enforcement orders stood across the sectors concerned. As on 15.10.2026, 34 orders in total had been issued in the industrial sector, 29 in the C&D sector and 27 for DG sets. The Task Force noted the disposal and processing of these cases, including those that needed additional information, personal hearings or re-inspection.
The Commission once again said that inspections should preferably target Red and Orange category industries, especially units with furnaces and boilers. In light of Closure Directions and letters coming back undelivered, the Flying Squads were told to strictly follow the standing instructions on checking complete and accurate addresses before filing inspection reports.
The Commission underlined the need to tighten enforcement further, verify compliance on time and keep implementing agencies closely coordinated. To curb air pollution effectively across the NCR, it also called for swift enforcement action, strict compliance monitoring and sustained inspections in priority sectors, including industrial units, C&D activities and DG sets.