CAQM prepares fresh curbs on construction activities as Delhi-NCR braces for winter pollution

New Delhi: With air pollution levels expected to deteriorate across Delhi-NCR as winter approaches, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is preparing to impose fresh restrictions on construction and demolition activities from November 5 as part of its efforts to contain pollution.

The proposed restrictions are aimed at reducing dust emissions, a significant contributor to poor air quality in the region, particularly during the winter months when unfavourable meteorological conditions trap pollutants close to the ground.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced on Friday that the CAQM would issue an order prohibiting dust-generating construction and demolition activities across the National Capital Region from November 5 to November 20. Projects of national importance will be exempt from the restrictions. The move is intended to address the seasonal spike in pollution ahead of Diwali and the onset of peak winter pollution.

The proposed ban will cover a wide range of activities, including building demolition, excavation, earthwork, drilling, structural construction, loading and unloading of construction materials, and road repair work. Activities such as piling, grinding, waterproofing, cutting of tiles and stones, and laying of underground utilities through open trenches are also among the dust-generating operations likely to be affected.

The exemption for projects of national importance is expected to allow essential infrastructure work to continue. Earlier CAQM guidelines have included railway and metro projects, airports, inter-state bus terminals, defence-related projects, hospitals, highways, flyovers, power transmission lines, pipelines and sanitation projects among the exempted categories. Such projects, however, remain subject to prescribed dust-control measures and construction-waste management norms. The final order will determine the exemptions applicable to the latest restrictions.

Alongside the construction restrictions, the Centre is also looking at reducing vehicular movement by encouraging offices to operate with only 50 per cent physical attendance during the 15-day period, with the remaining employees working from home. Directions on work-from-home arrangements are also being considered for districts with high vehicle density, including Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar.

The latest announcement comes against the backdrop of a separate Delhi government notification imposing restrictions on dust-generating construction and demolition activities in the capital from November 1 to January 31. The additional NCR-wide restrictions from November 5 are expected to bring neighbouring cities under a coordinated pollution-control drive.

With pollution levels generally worsening during November and December because of a combination of vehicular emissions, construction dust, industrial pollution, crop-residue burning and unfavourable weather conditions, authorities are seeking to reduce emissions before air quality deteriorates further.

The effectiveness of the measures will depend largely on strict enforcement, regular inspections and compliance by construction agencies, contractors and infrastructure developers across the NCR.

(This article has been generated with the help of AI)

Tags : Air Pollution, Delhi, construction, Diwali, AQI