The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has expanded technology-enabled surveillance of industrial air pollution by extending the requirement for installing and operationalising Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras to all categories of industries covered under its Statutory Direction No. 98. The order, issued on October 16, 2026, supersedes the Commission’s earlier order dated October 5, 2026.
The directive applies to all 17 categories of highly polluting industries identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), medium and large Red Category air-polluting industries, food and food-processing and textile industries equipped with boilers or thermic fluid heaters, and metal industries operating furnaces across the National Capital Region (NCR).
Under the order, industrial units must install PTZ cameras at fuel-feeding and charging points of boilers, thermic fluid heaters, furnaces, kilns and other applicable fuel-fired equipment. Industries using gaseous fuels must position cameras to capture gas meters, gauges and associated metering arrangements. Cameras are also required to monitor stack emissions, Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) sampling and port-hole locations, as well as fume extraction system areas wherever applicable.
The number and positioning of cameras must ensure adequate coverage of relevant industrial operations without significant blind spots. Additional cameras must be installed wherever a single camera cannot cover all prescribed locations effectively.
Real-Time Monitoring and Connectivity
The order mandates continuous, real-time transmission of camera feeds through the Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) to designated servers and portals of the CPCB and the respective State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) or the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). Industrial units must maintain functional cameras and communication systems, ensure adequate image clarity during day and night operations wherever applicable, and provide uninterrupted power supply with suitable backup arrangements.
Industries will also be responsible for maintaining the equipment and promptly reporting prolonged video transmission disruptions or camera malfunctions to the concerned SPCB or DPCC, along with details of corrective action taken.
All covered industrial units must complete the installation and operationalisation of the required cameras and real-time video transmission systems by November 30, 2026.
The CPCB, in coordination with the respective SPCBs and DPCC, will establish the necessary technical infrastructure, including designated portals and servers, to receive and access video feeds. The governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, along with the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the concerned regulatory authorities, have been directed to ensure effective implementation.
Strengthening Industrial Pollution Control
The camera-based monitoring requirements supplement existing directions on emission standards, approved fuels, OCEMS and other prescribed pollution-control measures.
According to the CAQM, industrial emissions—including particulate matter released through stacks and fugitive emissions from industrial processes—contribute significantly to NCR’s air pollution. These emissions also contribute to secondary particulate matter formation, with their impact becoming more pronounced during winter when unfavourable meteorological conditions restrict pollutant dispersion.
The Commission has also reported instances of industrial units using unapproved fuels during inspections conducted by its Flying Squads. The expanded remote-monitoring mechanism is intended to strengthen surveillance, improve regulatory oversight and support compliance with prescribed pollution-control requirements across the NCR.
Join our WhatsApp Channel for fastest updates: Join now
