Led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the new panel will monitor air quality, penalise defaulters – including government agencies – and order emission-control compliance by December 31.

The government of Delhi constituted a special high-level panel chaired by chief minister Rekha Gupta to coordinate pollution-control and clean-up across the capital. The panel, formed on Wednesday, includes senior officials from key departments, environmental scientists and experts from premier institutes. The move comes as air quality in the city dipped to the “very poor” bracket, with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recording an air quality index (AQI) of 342 on December 3.

Gupta described the crisis as an “emergency mission,” warning that “no agency, government or private, will be spared” if dust-control, waste-management or road maintenance norms are flouted.

Crackdown on Negligence — Even Within Government

Under the new regime, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been authorised to issue challans and impose heavy penalties – even on government departments – for non-compliance. Several agencies, including those responsible for roads, metro infrastructure and municipal upkeep, have been put on notice.

Specifically:

• The Public Works Department (PWD) has been directed to repair potholes across its 1,400-km road network within 72 hours and upload before-and-after photos.
• The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) must clear waste from vacant land, maintain cleanliness on its roads and expedite transfer of markets to municipal control.
• The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has been instructed to repair damaged stretches beneath elevated tracks and enforce dust-mitigation measures.

Officials have also been asked to register FIRs against departments found to have conducted unauthorised road-cutting or failed to restore damaged surfaces properly.

Citywide Dust Control and Clean-Up Drive

Environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, present at the secretariat meeting, said the government is strengthening the “311 Green App” as the central “war-room” to monitor dust hotspots, potholes, and “brown zones” across the city. A six-month action plan is now in force: dust-free measures will be rolled out across identified zones.

As part of this plan:

• The city’s entire 8,000-km municipal road network is slated to be made pothole-free and dust-free. Within 45 days, 1,000 vacuum-based litter pickers and 100 mechanical road sweepers are to be deployed.
• All construction sites must ensure proper fencing and comply with pollution-control norms within 48 hours of notice.
• Mist-spray dust mitigation – previously limited to pockets – will be expanded citywide.
• Vehicles not meeting BS-IV norms may be barred or face stricter regulations; the government will favour e-autos and push for increased use of metro and public transport.

Officials say the clean, green, dust-free condition of roads is the “most crucial component” of the capital’s anti-pollution strategy – and that delays in field-action will no longer be tolerated.

Industrial Emissions: Final Deadline December 31

In tandem with local clean-up efforts, the central government has issued a stern warning to industries operating in the Delhi‑National Capital Region (NCR). All highly polluting units must install real-time emission monitoring systems (OCEMS) and pollution-control devices by December 31 – or face closure.

According to CPCB chairperson Vir Vikram Yadav, roughly 2,254 such units in Delhi-NCR have not yet complied. The deadline is final; non-compliance will trigger strict action.

Furthermore, medium and large “red-category” industrial units – especially in the food processing, textiles and metal sectors – have been told to comply immediately with emission guidelines. The timeline also includes a directive to states surrounding Delhi, such as Punjab and Haryana, to finalise their 2026 air pollution control plans by the end of this month.

To strengthen the drive on vehicular pollution, an expert committee is being formed under the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to assess and recommend stricter vehicle emission standards across the region.

What This Means for Delhi Residents

With the formation of this empowered panel, the Delhi government appears to be backing its anti-pollution rhetoric with enforceable action – including the controversial step of penalising even government departments. For residents, the actions could mean cleaner roads, fewer dust storms, and stricter control on industrial and construction pollution. But effectiveness will depend on swift implementation, transparency in enforcement, and sustained monitoring.

The dual pressure – aggressive regulation of both ground-level dust and industrial emissions – makes clear: this winter, Delhi’s fight for breathable air will be fought on multiple fronts.

Image: Wikimedia