India, Oct. 16 -- The Government of India has issued a release:
The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has strengthened the mechanism for remote monitoring of air-polluting industries in the National Capital Region (NCR) by extending the requirement for installation and operationalization of Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras to all categories of industries covered under Statutory Direction No. 98. This will expand the scope of technology-enabled monitoring of fuel usage, industrial emissions and compliance with prescribed pollution-control measures. The Order supersedes the Commission's earlier Order dated 05.10.2026.
The Commission has directed that all 17 categories of highly polluting industries identified by CPCB, Red Category (Medium and Large) air-polluting industries, Food & Food Processing and Textile industries having boilers/ thermic fluid heaters, and Metal industries having furnaces, operating in NCR, shall ensure compliance with the following requirements:
(i) Installation and positioning of PTZ cameras
(ii) Real-time video monitoring and connectivity
(iii) Power backup and maintenance
(iv) Compliance timeline
All industrial units covered under this Order shall ensure installation and operationalization of the requisite PTZ cameras, including arrangements for real-time transmission of video feeds, by 30.11.2026.
CPCB, in coordination with the respective SPCBs/ DPCC, shall ensure necessary technical arrangements, including designated portals, servers and associated infrastructure for receiving and accessing real-time video feeds from industries. The respective SPCBs/ DPCC shall monitor compliance and ensure its effective implementation in their respective jurisdictions.
The respective State Governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and the GNCTD, along with CPCB and the concerned SPCBs/ DPCC, shall ensure effective implementation of the Order. The requirements under the Order shall be in addition to the existing directions relating to emission standards, use of approved fuels, OCEMS and other pollution-control measures prescribed by the Commission, CPCB and other authorities under applicable environmental laws.
Industrial emissions, including particulate matter (PM) released through stacks and fugitive emissions arising from various industrial processes, contribute significantly to air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR). Besides directly increasing particulate matter concentrations, and industrial emissions also contribute to the formation of secondary particulate matter, adversely affecting ambient air quality. The impact of such emissions becomes prominent during the winter months, when adverse meteorological conditions restrict the dispersion of pollutants.
The Commission has been undertaking several measures to mitigate industrial air pollution, including transition to cleaner fuels, prohibition of polluting fuels and prescription of stringent emission standards from time to time. The Flying Squads of the Commission, during inspections of industrial units across NCR, have reported instances of use of unapproved fuels, indicating the need for strengthening compliance monitoring and surveillance mechanisms. Accordingly, the monitoring mechanism has been further strengthened with this order.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
