The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the progress of air pollution control action plans being implemented in Ghaziabad and Noida. The meeting marks the first in a series of city-specific reviews planned across the Delhi-NCR region, which will culminate in a comprehensive state-level assessment in the coming days.
Senior officials from both cities made detailed presentations outlining actions taken to curb pollution and strengthen on-ground implementation. The review followed a standardised evaluation framework, earlier prescribed by the Minister, to ensure consistency and measurable outcomes.
Key focus areas included smart traffic management systems to reduce vehicular emissions, compliance of industrial units with pollution norms, expansion of electric vehicle fleets and charging infrastructure, and improvements in public transport and parking facilities. The review also examined progress in managing construction and demolition waste, municipal solid waste, road dust mitigation through end-to-end paving, deployment of mechanised road sweeping machines, use of anti-smog guns and water sprinklers, and greening of public spaces.
The Minister also reviewed updates from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the installation of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) in industrial units. He reiterated the December 31, 2025 deadline for OCEMS installation and directed strict action against non-compliant industries. Pollution control boards were instructed to intensify inspections, particularly in peri-urban industrial areas.
Emphasising regional coordination, Shri Yadav requested the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to further refine city-level parameters and consolidate them for a Delhi-NCR-wide performance review. He also highlighted the need to upgrade National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) benchmarks to enable performance-based allocation of funds.
The Minister underlined the importance of Jan Bhagidari (public participation) in pollution control measures and encouraged active involvement of elected representatives and citizens. Municipal bodies were advised to collaborate with forest departments to undertake climate-resilient plantation using indigenous, low-water-demand species. He also called for integrated waste management planning, avoiding fragmented approaches across agencies.
Additional recommendations included identifying major traffic corridors in Delhi-NCR for end-to-end public transport planning and ensuring that city action plans are future-ready, with advance planning for increased waste processing requirements.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, CAQM, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Uttar Pradesh State Pollution Control Board, and district and municipal leadership from Ghaziabad and Noida.
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