CAQM Reviews Preparedness for Stubble-Burning Prevention, Vehicular and Industrial Emission Control

The Sub-Committee on Safeguarding & Enforcement of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) convened its 26th meeting to review preparedness, enforcement, and compliance measures for targeted air pollution abatement across the National Capital Region (NCR). The review covered action plans for the complete elimination of paddy stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, alongside crop diversification and residue utilization. It evaluated vehicular pollution measures including entry restrictions for BS-IV and older commercial goods vehicles, cleaner bus migration, ANPR system installation at fuel stations to enforce valid Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC), transitioning of aggregators and delivery services to cleaner mobility, impounding of End-of-Life (EoL) vehicles, and phasing out diesel auto-rickshaws by the end of 2026. Furthermore, the committee assessed industrial emission standards, stone crushing unit regulations, mechanical road sweeping machine procurement for winter dust control, and surprise inspection protocols for construction and demolition sites.