Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, today chaired a high-level meeting to undertake a detailed review of the action plans of Gurugram and Faridabad, for tackling air pollution in these NCR cities. This was the second meeting in a series of such reviews on City-specific action plans in NCR, conducted on defined parameters and in the prescribed format, as directed by the Minister during the earlier review meeting held on 03.12.2025.

During the meeting, Shri Yadav expressed concern over persistent issues such as legacy waste, traffic congestion, poor condition of rural roads,  and violations of building by-laws in peri-urban areas, which are significantly contributing to environmental degradation in the NCR. He directed officers to undertake extensive field inspections and ensure visible and measurable outcomes in eliminating pollution sources. The Minister emphasized the need to identify pollution hotspots, understand the underlying causes, and implement targeted corrective measures. He also directed that month-wise action taken reports be submitted by the concerned officers for review at the Ministerial level.

The Minister highlighted the lack of adequate Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste collection sites and processing facilities in Gurugram and Faridabad. He further instructed the Municipal Commissioners of both cities to prepare integrated action plans to address the long-pending issue of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)/Legacy waste, and to expedite end-to-end paving of roads to curb road dust. He directed authorities to identify and take action against unregistered and deregistered vehicles plying on roads. Shri Yadav also instructed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) to take strict action against illegal units operating in parts of Faridabad and Nuh that burn waste tyres for oil extraction. Augmentation of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) stations in both cities was also emphasized.

Shri Yadav underlined that combating pollution is a shared responsibility and highlighted the critical role of public participation in achieving mission objectives. He suggested that urban cleanliness campaigns be undertaken in mission mode by forming urban teams through convergence with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and public representatives. The Minister called for the adoption of technological solutions, capacity building of safai karamcharis, and strengthening of public behavioural change initiatives to encourage mass participation, particularly among youth. He stressed that IEC activities should be tailored to specific target groups, with awareness of relevant laws and rules.

The Minister stressed the need to enhance greening of open spaces in Gurugram and Faridabad. Municipal authorities were directed to work in partnership with the State Forest Department to undertake plantation of indigenous, heat-resistant and low-water-requiring varieties of bushes and grasses. He also instructed authorities to identify traffic congestion hotspots and implement easily executable short-term measures to reduce vehicular emissions, including removal of unnecessary police barricading, elimination of illegal parking, and provision of structured parking facilities. Preparation of comprehensive long-term plans to address vehicular pollution was also directed.

Shri Yadav appreciated several best practices, including the ‘Pothole Ambulance Initiative’ of Faridabad, which ensures corrective action on potholes within 72 hours, and suggested its replication across NCR cities. Other initiatives discussed included revitalization of public parks and open spaces by removing municipal solid waste, adoption of Miyawaki plantation techniques, establishment of green crematoriums, and reuse of treated sewage water for irrigating public plantations.

The Minister noted that nearly 50 percent of industries that are delinquent in installing Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) - amounting to 1,151 out of 2,254 units - are present in Haryana. He directed strict enforcement action against the non-compliant units. He also directed identification and rejuvenation of water bodies and parks in Gurugram through CSR activities, and focused efforts on cleanliness and upgradation of old bastis.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), senior officers of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Chairman (UP SPCB), District Magistrates and Municipal Commissioners of Gurugram, Faridabad and Manesar.

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VM

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