Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired a high-level review meeting on 17 December 2025 to evaluate the Action Plans of Delhi and Sonipat for air pollution mitigation, marking the third structured review in the series for the Delhi‑NCR region.
The minister directed officials to prioritise major sources of pollution, implement practical, evidence-based solutions, and adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to improve air quality and public health outcomes. Specific directives were issued for construction and demolition (C&D) activities.
C&D waste handling and processing infrastructure must be established within 10 km of construction sites, and demolition is to be restricted during peak pollution months from October to December. Immediate inspection drives across NCR cities were ordered, with strict action against major polluters while avoiding undue inconvenience to the general public.
Traffic and urban mobility measures were emphasised, including the creation of signal-free corridors on key roads during peak hours, removal of illegal parking and encroachments at 62 identified congestion hotspots, and restricting vehicles below BS‑IV emission standards. Authorities were instructed to improve last-mile connectivity to public transport hubs and ensure multi-level parking facilities are strategically placed to reduce congestion.
The minister also highlighted the expansion of waste-to-energy plants at municipal solid waste dump sites, identification of open spaces for greening through public participation, and fast-tracking the liquidation of legacy waste dump sites at Okhla, Bhalswa, and Ghazipur with a target of achieving tangible results by the end of 2026. Removal of stray animals from roads was also emphasised to prevent accidents and traffic jams.
Industrial measures include analysis of piped natural gas consumption among units to assess their transition to cleaner fuels. The minister stressed the need for sustained awareness campaigns targeting industries, construction companies, and the public, and for providing heating devices to workers through corporate social responsibility initiatives to reduce biomass and municipal solid waste burning. Agencies were urged to work in mission mode to achieve a 40 per cent reduction in the Air Quality Index over the next year.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Chairman, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM); officials from the Central Pollution Control Board and Delhi Pollution Control Committee; Secretary (Environment & Forest), NCT Delhi; and municipal commissioners of Delhi and Sonipat.
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