Government Urges Compliance in Construction Monitoring Amid Discrepancies
A crucial review meeting convened on September 8, 2026, under the leadership of Shri Rajesh Verma, Chairperson of the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas, addressed the ongoing issues of compliance with statutory directives related to construction and demolition (C&D) projects. These directives require the registration of C&D projects with an area of 500 square meters or more and the installation of functional video monitoring systems that provide remote monitoring of dust control measures.
Since 2024, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has conducted sample-based remote monitoring of C&D sites through the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) web portal. However, the monitoring revealed several alarming discrepancies, such as non-functional web-camera links, incorrect user credentials, prompts to install mobile apps, and malfunctioning camera feeds. The CAQM has previously communicated these issues to the HSPCB and urged for corrective action.
Monitoring Findings Raise Concerns
During a recent monitoring exercise from June 19 to June 22, 2026, the CAQM assessed 2,033 active C&D sites across multiple districts, including Panipat, Sonipat, Faridabad, and Gurugram. Alarmingly, most of the monitoring links were found to be non-operational. Out of hundreds of registered sites, only a handful—specifically, four in Faridabad, six in Gurugram (North), and five in Gurugram (South)—had functional monitoring systems. These findings were explicitly communicated to the HSPCB on July 8, 2026.
Call for Action and Accountability
The CAQM highlighted the need for a dedicated team within the HSPCB to enhance remote monitoring capabilities. Despite previous recommendations, no such team has been formed, resulting in overall non-compliance that undermined the purpose of the monitoring system. The Commission deemed this lack of action as willful non-compliance by the HSPCB.
During the review meeting, the HSPCB was tasked with providing a detailed report regarding the compliance status and the steps taken towards fulfilling the CAQM’s directives. The Commission reiterated that the effective implementation of these statutory directions is critical for curbing air pollution in the NCR.
Steps Forward for Enhanced Compliance
The CAQM mandated the HSPCB to enforce rigorous adherence to all directives issued by the Commission. This includes taking corrective measures such as closing non-compliant sites. The Commission also emphasized the importance of strengthening monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that proper dust mitigation strategies are implemented across all C&D sites.
As the fight against air pollution continues, the CAQM pledged to maintain vigilant oversight of compliance efforts, reinforcing the need for timely adherence to regulatory mandates by relevant authorities, to safeguard public health and environmental quality in the region.
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