Delhi-NCR Gets 7-Day Deadline to Improve Air Quality: Centre Warns of Strict Action
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The Union Environment Minister, Bhupender Yadav, has given a stern warning to authorities in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) to significantly improve the region's air quality within a week. The warning comes as the region's air quality index (AQI) reached a "very poor" level of 376 on Friday. Yadav, who chaired a review meeting with municipal bodies from Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, emphasized the need for sustained action to address the region's air pollution. He directed authorities to take strict measures against defaulters while ensuring that the general public is not unduly inconvenienced. The Centre has also issued directions to ensure smooth traffic management at 62 hotspots in the region, promote electric and CNG buses, and implement staggered timings for offices and commercial complexes to reduce congestion. Additionally, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Noida have been instructed to fast-track the implementation of an Integrated Smart Traffic Management System. Yadav underscored the importance of coordinated planning with Metro rail authorities to improve last-mile connectivity, removal of encroachments causing traffic, and proper drainage to prevent monsoon damage to roads. The Centre has also directed authorities to remove dust and construction waste, contain biomass burning, and strictly enforce construction bans during high pollution periods. The review meeting marked the fourth in recent weeks, and Yadav has announced that similar meetings will be held every month from January 2026 to review action plans and address implementation bottlenecks. The Centre has set a 15-day review period to assess the progress made by the authorities in addressing the region's air pollution issues.
