Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta convened a high-level review meeting on the capital’s air pollution crisis Thursday, revealing that a major enforcement drive has resulted in thousands of penalties as authorities push for stricter compliance. The meeting assessed the impact of recent measures, including the “No PUC, No Fuel” policy, while the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) separately warned NCR states over delays in curbing waste burning.
What Are the Key Enforcement Figures from the Drives?
According to a joint report from the Delhi Transport Department and the Delhi Traffic Police, a special enforcement campaign under Stage-4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has yielded significant results. A total of 210 enforcement teams were deployed.
The government provided the following breakdown of penalties:
Delhi Traffic Police: 2,743 challans for vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates.
Delhi Transport Department: 316 such challans.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System: 687 challans.
Total PUC Violations: 3,746 challans recorded.
Additional GRAP Violations: 397 challans issued for other breaches of pollution control rules.
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What Measures Did CM Rekha Gupta Review?
The Chief Minister’s Office stated that the meeting reviewed feedback from cabinet ministers and departments, noting “reduced vehicles observed on the ground.” The government emphasized “strict compliance” and “joint intensive enforcement drives.” Key measures currently in force include:
- The “No PUC, No Fuel” rule, denying fuel to vehicles without a valid certificate.
- A ban on the entry of non-BS-6 diesel vehicles into Delhi.
- 50% work-from-home for all government and private offices.
- Deployment of 397 anti-smog guns, 276 water sprinklers, and 73 mechanized road sweepers to curb dust.
An official stated, “Monitoring and strict enforcement will continue in the days ahead.”
What Did the CAQM Say About Waste Burning?
In a parallel review, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR (CAQM) held meetings with NCR state governments and Delhi, focusing on solid waste management to prevent open burning. Each state received a set of directives from the commission requiring regular compliance reports, surveillance of sensitive areas, and segregation at the source.
For Delhi, the CAQM noted “persistent incidents of open MSW and biomass burning,” despite available infrastructure, indicating “gaps in enforcement, segregation, and monitoring.” It mandated that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) process about 3.5 LMT of legacy garbage per month in order to finish remediating 143.09 LMT of waste by December 2027. Fly ash disposal and waste-to-energy plants were subject to stringent oversight by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).
The dual reviews highlight a two-pronged approach: immediate on-ground enforcement against vehicular pollution and a longer-term, systemic push to address the chronic issue of waste burning, which remains a significant pollution source in the capital region.
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