Delhi-NCR unveils seven-month pollution plan as winter smog hits | Today’s news
Delhi and its neighboring NCR states have developed a coordinated seven-month program to reduce air pollution with greater emphasis on public outreach, behavioral change and prevention of pre-winter crop residue burning.
The action plans, covering September 2026 to March 2027, focus on industrial emissions, diesel generators, road dust, construction and demolition waste, municipal solid waste, agricultural residues and vehicular emissions, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Thursday. Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab have submitted plans.
Interacting with NCR state governments, Yadav emphasized the need for coordinated engagement of stakeholders and reviewed the information, education and communication (IEC) activities proposed by the states. He called for coordination of campaigns for greater reach and impact.
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The plans are based on a decision taken at a meeting chaired by Yadav in July and were subsequently reviewed by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in August.
The program comes at a time when Delhi-NCR faces poor air quality throughout the year, with conditions worsening from November to February. According to Central Pollution Control Board data, Delhi recorded its worst city-wide air quality in 2025 in November, when its daily average AQI was 354, pushing the capital into the “severe” category.
From enforcement to outreach
The plans divide responsibilities across pollution control boards, urban bodies, transport and agriculture departments, traffic police and district administrations. State Pollution Control Boards and Delhi Pollution Control Board will function as nodal agencies.
The Delhi Plan covers seven pollution sectors and includes 13 regional industrial pollution authorities and sets of DGs. Seven road-owning agencies will conduct road dust seminars every month, while the traffic department and the Delhi Traffic Police will conduct monthly vehicle emissions targeting schools, local welfare associations and commercial fleets.
The capital will also hold quarterly community meetings at ward level, monthly environmental workshops in schools and colleges and weekly social media campaigns on sources of pollution. The plan includes awareness campaigns aimed at achieving the “no burning” goal.
Haryana’s plan covers 14 districts of NCR, with the agriculture department and district administration leading interventions at the gram-panchayat level on stubble burning. The districts will host intensive camps and demonstrations on crop residue management during September to November. The state is also planning monthly pollution control drives involving 250 vehicle owners in each district.
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Covering eight NCR districts, Uttar Pradesh has proposed 230 village-level camps, eight district-level camps and 476 crop residue management training and demonstration programs from mid-September to November. It also plans special PUC drives covering 2,000 vehicle owners per district every month or 16,000 contacts in eight districts.
Five NCR districts in Rajasthan will operate stubble mining, while municipal bodies will focus on road dust, construction and demolition waste and municipal solid waste. The plan also includes weekly radio jingles, quarterly community meetings and monthly environmental workshops.
Punjab is leading the stubble burning pressure
Punjab has proposed 2,000 crop residue management demonstrations and 4,500 village-level camps in 23 districts, along with 302 block-level camps, 53 publicity vans, 453 street plays and 2,850 murals with increased intensity in identified hotspots.
The state will mobilize the Punjab Agricultural University, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, panchayats and district administrations. A dedicated program management unit will monitor activities on a daily basis. Punjab is also planning 151 sarpanch meetings and public pledges along with peer outreach through 1,510 progressive farmers each eligible for ₹500 token incentive.
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A coordinated approach means moving towards sustained public communication, community participation and behavior change alongside enforcement.
Yadav stressed that “non-compliant polluting industries must be dealt with vigorously in line with the ‘zero tolerance’ policy”. He also stressed the need to establish accountability for violations and non-compliance, with disclosure of non-compliant stakeholders being taken as a measure to ensure greater accountability and compliance.
