New Delhi: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed the immediate closure of 16 industrial units across the National Capital Region (NCR) after inspections revealed serious and repeated violations of environmental regulations, underscoring the regulator’s intensified enforcement push to curb air pollution.
In a statement issued on Friday, the statutory body said the action followed detailed inspections carried out as part of its continuous monitoring drive to ensure compliance with air quality norms and statutory directions �. Of the units ordered to shut, 14 are located in Sonipat district of Haryana, while one unit each is situated in NCR areas of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
According to CAQM, the inspections uncovered a range of violations, including establishment and operation of units without mandatory Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO), non-installation or non-functioning of air pollution control devices, and the use of unapproved fuels. Several units were also found operating during periods restricted under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), while others violated prescribed norms for diesel generator sets and emitted visible smoke from industrial processes.
“In several cases, the units were operating in blatant disregard of extant statutes, statutory directions and environmental norms,” the Commission said, adding that it has taken a serious view of the lapses. The defaulting units have been directed to remain closed until full compliance with applicable laws and directions is achieved.
The action comes amid heightened regulatory vigilance in the NCR, particularly during winter months when air quality typically deteriorates sharply. CAQM has been stepping up inspections and enforcement as part of a broader strategy to ensure that industrial activity does not exacerbate pollution levels in the region.
Reiterating its zero-tolerance stance, the Commission warned that strict enforcement actions, including closures and other penal measures as provided under law, will continue against non-compliant units. It also urged all industries operating in the NCR to strictly adhere to prescribed environmental norms, ensure proper installation and functioning of pollution control equipment, and maintain compliance at all times.