New Delhi, March 18 (NationPress) The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) conducted a thorough review of inspection results and enforcement actions throughout the National Capital Region (NCR) on Wednesday. As part of its efforts to combat pollution violations, the commission has proposed the closure of 14 non-compliant units and the sealing of diesel generator sets located at 27 establishments.

This significant development was discussed during the 127th meeting of the Enforcement Task Force (ETF) held on March 17. The meeting focused on inspections carried out from February 19 to March 13, which included various sectors such as construction and demolition, industrial operations, management of road dust, and infractions related to diesel generator (DG) sets.

The Commission reported a total of 79 inspection reports submitted during the 16-day period. Based on these findings, they have recommended the closure of 14 units and the sealing of 27 diesel generator sets. Additionally, 20 entities have received Show Cause Notices (SCNs) for failing to comply with pollution control regulations.

The ETF emphasized the importance of prompt responses from those entities found in violation, instructing them to submit their replies within five days of the preliminary inspection reports.

Moreover, the ETF suggested enhancing the inspection framework by integrating Flying Squad teams with officers from the Central Pollution Control Board and the relevant state Pollution Control Boards or the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, aiming for improved accountability and effectiveness in enforcement actions.

The task force also reviewed sector-specific enforcement concerning road dust management, covering areas supervised by various agencies, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Council, Public Works Department, Delhi Development Authority, Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, Delhi Cantonment Board, and the National Highways Authority of India. Violations discovered during these inspections prompted corrective actions, including the issuance of show-cause notices to the concerned agencies.

As of March 17, the Commission noted that Flying Squads have conducted inspections on a total of 26,498 units, projects, and entities across NCR. From these inspections, 1,743 closure directions have been issued for non-compliance. Out of these, 1,317 units have received clearance to resume operations after confirming compliance, while 123 cases have been forwarded to the respective state pollution control boards or Delhi Pollution Control Committee for final decisions.

Currently, requests for resumption from the remaining 303 entities are under review following the established procedures.

Reaffirming its commitment to addressing air pollution in the region, the Commission highlighted the necessity for robust enforcement, improved coordination among agencies, and strict adherence to environmental standards to effectively mitigate pollution across NCR.