CAQM Steps Up Monitoring of Road Dust, Waste and Open Burning Across Delhi NCR

New Delhi, Dec 26 (KNN) The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) conducted an inspection and re-inspection drive on 24 December 2025 to review compliance with dust mitigation measures undertaken by road-maintaining agencies. 

The exercise followed an earlier inspection carried out on 12 December 2025 and formed part of CAQM’s ongoing monitoring and enforcement activities under the statutory framework of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The inspections focused on the presence of visible road dust, the on-ground functioning of Mechanical Road Sweeping Machines (MRSMs), and the identification of municipal solid waste (MSW) and construction and demolition (C&D) waste accumulation, as well as instances of open burning. In total, 15 teams from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) inspected 106 road stretches maintained by the Public Works Department (PWD), while two teams from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) re-inspected 27 selected road stretches under the jurisdiction of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). 

Geo-tagged and time-stamped photographic evidence was compiled and submitted to the Commission as part of a consolidated report.

The re-inspection of the 27 DDA-maintained road stretches, which had earlier been reported with high visible dust levels, showed a marked improvement. None of the stretches fell under the high dust category during the latest inspection. 

Seven stretches were recorded with moderate dust levels, 19 with low dust intensity, and one stretch showed no visible dust, indicating effective follow-up action by the agency after the earlier directions issued by CAQM.

In contrast, the inspection of PWD-maintained road stretches revealed continuing deficiencies. Of the 106 stretches inspected, nine were found to have high visible dust levels, 16 recorded moderate dust, 37 showed low dust intensity, and 44 were observed to have no visible dust. 

On several stretches with high dust levels, accumulation of MSW and C&D waste and instances of open burning were also noted, underscoring the need for stronger on-ground enforcement and maintenance.

The Commission noted that while the DDA’s response reflected improvement and compliance with earlier directions, the findings on PWD-maintained roads pointed to persisting gaps in effective dust control. 

CAQM stressed the need for immediate and sustained corrective measures, including regular mechanical sweeping, timely removal and disposal of collected dust and waste, maintenance of road surfaces and central verges, effective use of water sprinkling and dust-suppression systems, and strict prevention of open burning.

CAQM reiterated that targeted inspection and re-inspection drives under ‘Operation Clean Air’ will continue to ensure adherence to its statutory directions on dust mitigation and to support efforts aimed at keeping Delhi’s road stretches clean and dust-free.

(KNN Bureau)