Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav has directed authorities to ensure visible improvement in air quality across the Delhi-NCR within one week. He asserted this while chairing the fourth high-level review meeting on air pollution in New Delhi today. The Minister also reviewed action plans submitted by Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, along with municipal bodies, to tackle the prevailing poor air quality.

He announced that from January 2026, monthly Ministerial-level reviews of finalised State Action Plans will be conducted to ensure sustained implementation. Mr Yadav stressed that strict measures must be taken against defaulters without causing inconvenience to the public. He directed authorities to remove road dust and construction and demolition waste, enforce construction bans during high pollution periods, contain biomass burning, and intensify action against illegal industrial units.

Additionally, directions were issued to improve traffic management at 62 congestion hotspots, promote EV and CNG buses, implement staggered office timings, and fast-track Integrated Smart Traffic Management Systems in the National Capital Region. He also emphasised improving last-mile metro connectivity and removing encroachments causing traffic congestion within 10 days. The Minister instructed Haryana to strengthen measures against stubble burning, ensure utilisation of paddy straw, and promote pelletisation, CBG and ethanol plants. He also directed installation of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems in polluting units by 31st of this month.