Union Environment Ministry Reviews Delhi-NCR Action Plan to Combat Winter Air Pollution

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav chaired a high-level review meeting to finalize a coordinated multi-state action plan to combat severe winter air pollution across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The meeting was attended virtually by environment ministers and senior officials from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The seven-month comprehensive strategy, running from September 2026 through March 2027, focuses on curbing crop residue burning, industrial emissions, road dust, and vehicular discharges through targeted enforcement and public communication. During the meeting, Minister Yadav emphasized that air pollution is a regional issue requiring synchronized, zero-tolerance enforcement against non-conforming polluting industries and hotspots. Concurrently, the Delhi government announced the deployment of 334 specialized enforcement teams operating 24/7 across 39 subdivisions and 256 wards to monitor dust suppression, construction compliance, and biomass burning. Punjab and neighboring states also presented intensified awareness campaigns and machinery support plans for farmers to manage paddy straw without stubble burning. The regional initiative aims to prevent severe smog conditions that traditionally affect Northern India during the winter months.