New Delhi, May 26: Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday chaired a high-level review meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and senior officials to assess the progress of the Delhi-NCR Air Pollution Action Plan and push for faster implementation of anti-pollution measures ahead of the winter season.
The meeting focused on critical issues including road dust mitigation, intelligent traffic management, electric vehicle transition, waste management and industrial pollution control.
Delhi PWD Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh and Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa were also present during the review meeting.
Bhupender Yadav stressed that timely implementation of planned interventions, strict enforcement and coordinated action among agencies are essential to improve Delhi’s air quality and protect public health.
“The coming months are crucial for Delhi’s air quality management,” the Union Minister said, while highlighting gaps in implementation and urging authorities to work in mission mode.
During the review, the Centre asked the Delhi government to complete all pending road redevelopment works by October 2026 and intensify greening activities along roads to reduce dust pollution.
Yadav also called for finalisation of pending agreements with the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) to ensure scientific road development standards.
The Union Minister reviewed the deployment of Mechanized Road Sweeping Machines (MRSMs) and directed authorities to increase their numbers significantly. He asked the Delhi government to deploy 78 large and medium MRSMs along with 1,000 litter pickers by September 2026.
Calling road cleaning and dust suppression among the most effective anti-pollution measures, Yadav urged agencies to intensify deep-cleaning operations across the city.
On transport and electric mobility, the minister stressed the need for procurement of more electric buses and rapid expansion of EV charging infrastructure in Delhi and the wider NCR region.
He also emphasised strengthening Delhi Metro connectivity and improving last-mile public transport integration to reduce vehicular emissions and encourage public transport usage.
The meeting also reviewed steps related to End-of-Life (EoL) vehicles. Authorities were directed to speed up issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for transfer of old vehicles outside NCR and install Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at all border entry points by September 2026.
The Centre further asked Delhi authorities to identify and develop 15 signal-free traffic corridors by September 2026 to reduce congestion and idling emissions.
On industrial pollution, Bhupender Yadav directed strict monitoring of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) and Air Pollution Control Devices (APCDs), warning that non-compliant units should face strict enforcement, including sealing if necessary.
The minister also called for intensified inspections of industries operating in non-conforming areas and action against illegal diesel generator usage.
Reviewing construction and demolition (C&D) waste management, the Centre highlighted a processing gap of nearly 1,000 tonnes per day and asked Delhi agencies to increase waste processing capacity by December 2026.
Municipal bodies were directed to ensure geotagging of all C&D waste transport vehicles by July 2026 and carry out monthly inspections at all active construction sites.
On municipal solid waste management, Yadav stressed the need for faster disposal of legacy waste and expansion of fresh waste processing facilities before September 2026.
Expressing concern over open waste burning during winters, the Union Minister reiterated a zero-tolerance policy against such practices and called for stronger enforcement and public awareness campaigns.
He also suggested launching intensive greening and deep-cleaning drives immediately and again after the monsoon season under a “Whole of Government” and “Whole of Society” approach involving both governments and public participation.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, CAQM, CPCB, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, NDMC, Delhi Metro, Delhi Police and PWD.
