Delhi-NCR pollution crackdown: 191 factories to be sealed as minister warns officials

India's Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired a high-level review on Saturday (November 14) of air pollution measures in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), directing the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to seal 191 factories that have failed to install air pollution control equipment, and warning transport officials that the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) could prosecute them if automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras are not installed by November 30.

191 factories failed to order pollution controls

According to India Today, Yadav directed the CPCB to seal immediately 191 factories that have not even placed orders for air pollution control devices; units breaching emission limits face shutdown, power disconnection and sealing. CPCB data presented at the meeting showed 2,298 of 2,345 targeted industries in the NCR are connected to online continuous emission monitoring systems (OCEMS) — 98% — while 47 have already been closed or sealed.

Four states to name officers and report weekly

Delhi and the three neighbouring states — Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan — were asked to nominate secretary-level officials for 15 cities to oversee implementation through field visits and submit weekly progress reports to the CAQM, which was also asked to issue notices to non-performing officers. Yadav called for faster progress on the PARIVARTAN scheme to replace pre-BS-VI trucks and buses with BS-VI, CNG and electric vehicles by 2028, and for strict enforcement of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), including action at 233 identified traffic congestion hotspots.

Air slightly better, still "very poor"

Delhi's air improved marginally on Saturday, with the overall air quality index (AQI) at about 348–349 in the morning, still in the "very poor" band; monitoring stations including IIT Delhi (419) and ITO (414) remained "severe". On Friday the AQI reached 403 — the season's first "severe" reading and the city's worst day since January 19 (410). Stage III of GRAP has been in force across the NCR since November 6, halting non-essential construction, restricting vehicles and moving younger classes to hybrid learning. Sources: IANS; India Today via Inshorts; ETV Bharat.