As Delhi continues to grapple with poor air quality, the Centre has signalled a tougher push against pollution sources, with polluting vehicles and traffic congestion firmly in focus.
Bhupender Yadav, Union Environment Minister, on Monday called for stricter action against high-emission vehicles in the national capital, including the installation of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras at border entry points and the exploration of staggered office timings to ease peak-hour traffic. The suggestions were made during a review of the Delhi government’s plans to address air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR), officials said.
Focus on lasting solutions
“Air pollution in NCR is driven by both anthropogenic activities and meteorological factors,” Yadav said, stressing that lasting improvement will depend on long-term policy interventions rather than quick fixes. The meeting was held as part of the Centre’s annual review mechanism to review progress and strengthen implementation.
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Traffic congestion under the spotlight
Traffic emerged as a key concern during the meeting. The minister pushed for smarter traffic management, especially at 62 congestion hotspots identified across the city, where vehicles often crawl for long stretches. Easing these bottlenecks, officials said, could significantly cut emissions from idling engines.
Measures such as congestion charges, smart parking management, incentives for electric vehicles and faster expansion of charging infrastructure were also discussed. Yadav underlined that public participation and behavioural change would be key to the success of these steps.
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Industry and construction waste concerns
Industrial pollution was also reviewed. While most industrial estates in the NCR have shifted to cleaner piped natural gas, unplanned and illegal units outside designated zones continue to pose a problem. The minister directed authorities to take firm action against such units, including sealing them if needed.
The Central Pollution Control Board has already issued notices to 88 industrial units for failing to install emission monitoring systems, with closure action set to begin from January 23. Construction and demolition waste, another significant contributor to dust pollution, was also discussed, with officials emphasising the need for stricter controls during peak pollution periods and improved scientific disposal methods.
