As pollution levels continue to fluctuate across Delhi and the NCR this winter, the Centre has said it is relying on a mix of fuel reforms, tighter regulation, and on-ground coordination to prevent a repeat of last year’s severe air quality episodes.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, speaking to news agency ANI, said the government’s approach is not limited to emergency curbs but is aimed at addressing the main pollution sources, such as vehicles, industry, dust and waste, while factoring in the role played by winter weather conditions.
What the government says it has done
One of the key focus areas, according to the minister, has been the shift to cleaner fuel. PNG connections have now been extended to 226 of the 240 industrial areas in the region, with industries being encouraged to move away from more polluting systems. Thermal power plants around Delhi, he said, have also been asked to adopt newer emission-control technologies.
Vehicular pollution remains another concern in a city that sees millions of vehicles on its roads every day. The switch to BS-VI fuel and the removal of regulatory protections for older, high-emission vehicles are examples of steps that will tighten environmental standards.
Delhi chokes under dense haze as AQI turns severe in several areas
On industrial emissions, the government has asked around 3,500 units in the NCR to install pollution-monitoring devices linked to a central system. About 1,200 such devices are already operational, while the remaining industries have been given time until December 31 to comply.
Dust, particularly from construction and demolition activity, continues to be a major contributor. The minister said construction itself is not the issue, but poor handling of demolition waste has added to the problem. Construction and demolition waste rules have been enforced, and all major civic bodies have been asked to draw up detailed plans for managing such waste through 2026.
He also said municipal corporations have been directed to follow standardised measures under the National Clean Air Programme, including debris management and regular mechanised cleaning.
To deal with short-term spikes, the Commission for Air Quality Management has been empowered to activate the Graded Response Action Plan based on pollution forecasts, in coordination with meteorological assessments. Winter weather, especially periods of still wind when western disturbances pass without rain, often traps particulate matter over the region, Yadav noted.
At the civic level, coordination among eight municipal bodies across Delhi-NCR has been stepped up. Legacy waste sites at Bhalswa, Okhla and Ghazipur are being cleared, with most of the work expected to be completed by June. Cities such as Gurugram, Faridabad and Ghaziabad have also begun converting old dump sites into Miyawaki forests.