Monthly Review & Accountability Measures
Shri Yadav highlighted concerns over persistent poor air quality in Delhi-NCR and directed that ministerial-level reviews be conducted every month from January 2026 onwards. He instructed the preparation of sector-wise targeted action plans with clear responsibilities assigned to respective departments. By preparing plans eight months in advance, the Minister emphasized that efficient execution could deliver visible results in the upcoming pollution season.
Rajasthan: Public Transport, Waste Management & Urban Greening
Reviewing Rajasthan’s action plan, Shri Yadav stressed the need to strengthen public transport in Alwar, Bhiwadi, Neemrana, and Bharatpur, prioritizing the procurement of electric buses and expansion of charging infrastructure along highways and urban areas. The issue of unplanned truck parking along the National Highway was flagged, with immediate plans for dedicated parking lots and traffic decongestion strategies.
Further, the Minister directed city-specific road redevelopment proposals and deployment of Mechanical Road Sweeping Machines (MRSMs) to manage legacy municipal solid waste. Roadside greening initiatives are to cover 600 locations in Alwar and Bhiwadi, with local community participation. Non-compliant industries without Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) will face closure notices, while awareness campaigns will target sector-specific stakeholders, including Resident Welfare Associations and industrial units.
Punjab: Crop Residue Management & Innovative Solutions
During the review of Punjab’s plans, Shri Yadav highlighted the critical need for effective Crop Residue Management (CRM). He directed the preparation of SOPs to ensure all CRM machines are functional and stressed the use of drones to monitor stubble burning. The Minister encouraged pelletisation plants, utilization of crop residue in thermal power plants and brick kilns, and installation of Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) plants as environmentally friendly alternatives.
He also called for innovative mechanisms in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, stakeholders, and scientific experts to strengthen existing measures and counter stubble burning more effectively.
Inter-State Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement
The meeting saw participation from the Secretary of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare; Chairman of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM); senior officers from multiple Union Ministries; and representatives from the State Governments of Rajasthan and Punjab. Officers from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) were also present.
Shri Yadav assured that implementation roadblocks would be resolved through regular high-level inter-state coordination, reinforcing accountability and targeted execution to achieve measurable improvements in air quality.
