Delhi-NCR States Finalise Seven-Month Plan to Combat Winter Pollution

Delhi and its neighbouring states in the National Capital Region (NCR) have submitted a coordinated seven-month action plan to combat air pollution, with a strong emphasis on public engagement and curbing crop-residue burning. The programme, covering September 2026 to March 2027, was announced by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday.

The plans, submitted by Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab, target major pollution sources including industrial emissions, diesel generator sets, road dust, construction waste, and vehicular exhaust. The initiative follows a review by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in August and aims to address the region's chronic air quality issues, which typically peak between November and February.

A key component of the strategy is a shift towards sustained public communication and behavioural change. The plans assign specific responsibilities to pollution control boards, municipal bodies, transport and agriculture departments, and district administrations. Delhi's plan includes monthly vehicle-emission drives and weekly social-media campaigns, while Haryana will focus on gram-panchayat-level outreach to prevent stubble burning.

Uttar Pradesh has proposed hundreds of village-level camps and crop-residue management training programmes, while Rajasthan will run stubble-burning outreach and municipal initiatives targeting road dust and waste. Punjab is leading the anti-stubble-burning push with 2,000 crop-residue management demonstrations and 4,500 village-level camps across 23 districts, alongside a dedicated programme-management unit for daily tracking.

Minister Yadav stressed a 'Zero-Tolerance' policy for non-conforming polluting industries, calling for firm action and clear accountability. He also advocated for publicising non-compliant stakeholders to enhance compliance and ensure the plan's success.