NCR Takes Action to Combat Construction Dust Pollution
To tackle the ongoing issue of dust pollution due to construction and demolition activities in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued Statutory Direction No. 97. This new directive aims to enhance dust mitigation strategies and better manage demolition waste throughout the region, addressing a significant source of particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅) in the air.
The CAQM’s observations revealed that dust is a major contributor to the high levels of airborne particulate matter, which poses health risks to residents. Despite existing regulations, recent inspections by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) uncovered compliance issues in the handling and transportation of construction materials and demolition debris.
Enhancing these measures is timely, as the recently introduced Environment (Construction and Demolition) Waste Management Rules, 2025, will take effect on April 1, 2026. These rules promote sustainable waste management practices, circular economy principles, and stronger compliance controls.
Key Directives for Municipal Management
As large-scale construction and demolition projects progress across Delhi-NCR, the CAQM emphasizes the need for Municipal Bodies and Development Authorities to strengthen the oversight of dust control. While project proponents must responsibly manage demolition waste before initiating construction, local authorities are expected to establish systems for effective waste management.
To this end, the CAQM has outlined specific mandates to be followed by Municipal Corporations and Development Authorities:
- Set up collection points, intermediate storage facilities, and processing sites, ensuring there’s at least one collection point in every 5 km x 5 km area.
- When approving building plans for projects larger than 200 square meters that require demolition, authorities must obtain declarations of estimated demolition waste.
- Project proponents must deposit any generated demolition waste at designated facilities before construction begins and keep the receipts as proof.
- Agencies issuing Completion Certificates (CC) or Occupation Certificates (OC) must verify the waste deposition receipts from project proponents prior to approval.
- Ensure safe transportation and disposal of construction and demolition waste according to environmental rules.
These directives are set to take effect on April 1, 2026, providing a framework for enhanced environmental management in the region.
Future Developments
Moreover, the NCR State Governments and the Government of NCT of Delhi have been tasked with creating an integrated web portal, implementing geo-tagging for waste collection points, and adding GPS tracking for the transportation of demolition waste. This initiative is aimed at ensuring that the CAQM’s directives are efficiently executed.
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