Delhi's winter anti-pollution plan for 2025-26 is now active, with authorities stepping up measures across dust control, vehicles, construction, industry, waste, and stubble burning as the city braces for seasonal pollution.
Dust Control and Construction Monitoring
Officials said 86 mechanised sweepers, 300 water sprinklers, and 362 anti-smog guns are deployed citywide, with 70 more units being procured. Roads under PWD, MCD, NDMC, and DSIIDC are being vacuum-swept in multiple shifts. Construction projects of 500 sqm or more must register online, while sites above 3,000 sqm are required to deploy anti-smog guns. Drives have covered 698 km of roadside paving and 85 km of central verge greening.
Vehicular Enforcement
Authorities said 578 teams are checking PUC certificates, visible smoke, and idling violations. The 953 PUC centres feed real-time data to the Transport Department dashboard. Parking fees have been increased during GRAP Stages III and IV to discourage private vehicle use, and polluting goods vehicles are being monitored at city borders.
Industry and Power Sector
Officials said all industrial units in Delhi are operating on PNG, with only emission-compliant DG sets allowed. Joint inspections by DPCC and DSIIDC continue to monitor unauthorized fuel use.
Waste Management and Anti-Burning Measures
443 patrol teams operate 24×7 to prevent garbage and biomass burning. Authorities reported 136.27 lakh tons of legacy waste have been biomined, with no landfill fires in 2025. Waste-to-energy and biogas projects are being expanded, with additional capacity expected in the coming years.
A senior official said, "To prevent stubble burning, Delhi is targeting 100% coverage with PUSA decomposer. Field monitoring includes 11 day and five night patrols, supported by real-time mobile reporting. 1,407 RWAs have received heaters to prevent bonfires."
Diwali Measures
Ahead of Diwali, officials said only green crackers will be allowed on 18 and 19 October at licensed sites, with QR-coded verification. "Illegal or non-compliant stock will be confiscated, and violators prosecuted under the Explosives Rules and Environment Protection Act," the official added.
Monitoring and Technology
The Green Delhi App has resolved over 96,000 complaints, with response times ranging from two hours to one week. Six new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) are expected by March 2026. A pilot cloud-seeding program with IIT Kanpur and IMD is on standby for emergency particulate washout.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, "Our teams are field-ready, response times are tightening, and governance is being driven through dashboards and joint inspections so that every intervention translates to cleaner air that citizens can feel." He added, "Delhi is entering winter with a clear, science-backed, and fully coordinated plan- laser-focused on dust, vehicles, waste, firecrackers, and on-ground enforcement."
Officials said the winter action plan is now fully operational across roads, construction sites, vehicles, industries, and waste management points as Delhi prepares for peak winter pollution.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi's air quality remained in the 'poor' category for the fourth consecutive day on Friday as the city continued to reel under rising pollution levels in the run-up to Diwali.
Delhi's winter anti-pollution plan for 2025-26 is now active, with authorities stepping up measures across dust control, vehicles, construction, industry, waste, and stubble burning as the city braces for seasonal pollution.
Diwali celebrations lead to air pollution due to the burning of crackers and the climactic change. Read on as we discuss impact of high AQI on health and how to stay safe.
Green crackers are less polluting than traditional firecrackers, but they still add to pollution, said Arvind Kumar, Delhi's top chest surgeon, labelling green crackers a "misnomer."
Dyson has launched the Dyson Purifier Cool PC1 – TP11 in India ahead of Diwali, targeting rising indoor pollution levels. Priced at Rs. 39,900, it features a fully sealed HEPA filtration system that captures 99.95 percent of ultrafine particles and an activated carbon filter with Tris to absorb odours and gases. With Air Multiplier technology delivering 290L/s airfl...
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