The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas conducted an evening inspection drive in Central Delhi to assess compliance with statutory directions on prevention of open dumping and burning of municipal solid waste and biomass, and to identify localised sources contributing to air pollution.
The inspection was carried out by flying squads of the Commission for Air Quality Management and covered key localities in Karol Bagh and Rajinder Nagar. The drive focused on areas prone to unauthorised waste disposal and open burning, particularly during evening hours when such activities are more likely to occur.
According to consolidated inspection reports, a total of 20 violations were recorded during the drive. These included two cases of biomass and municipal solid waste burning and 18 cases of municipal solid waste dumping. The burning of biomass and waste was largely observed to be for heating purposes. In several locations, municipal solid waste was found mixed with construction and demolition waste, a practice that increases the risk of open burning and aggravates air pollution.
Specific locations in Karol Bagh where violations were observed include Guru Ravidas Marg near Ahobila Sri Lakshmi Temple and Patel Nagar East Post Office, Vishnu Mandir Marg outside The Suncourt Hotel Yatri, Krishna Nagar near the crossing of Ganga Mandir Marg and Hardhyan Singh Road, Ganga Mandir Marg near Shri Goma Ram Sablaniya Chowk, Gurudwara Road near the Obsession Carpet Store and the SBI cash deposit machine, and Ganga Mandir Marg at the Gali No 6 crossing. At these sites, instances of both municipal solid waste dumping and burning were identified. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi is the concerned civic agency for these areas.
The Commission has directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to ensure that municipal solid waste and gardening waste are not stored or dumped along roads or vehicle movement corridors, and that all waste is lifted promptly and disposed of only at designated authorised facilities. The civic body has also been advised to strictly enforce prohibitory orders against unauthorised dumping, prevent recurrence of such practices, impose penalties on violators and ensure immediate removal of accumulated waste.
The Commission further informed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi about repeated instances of open dumping and open burning of municipal solid waste and biomass across its jurisdictions. It noted continued complaints indicating systemic gaps in enforcement and non-compliance with statutory directions mandating zero tolerance towards such practices, which are recognised as significant contributors to air pollution in the region. The civic body has been directed to take holistic corrective action, fix responsibility on concerned officials and submit action taken reports, with the objective of achieving zero municipal solid waste burning.
Emphasising the impact of localised pollution sources, the Commission stated that open waste dumping and biomass and municipal solid waste burning continue to significantly affect air quality, particularly during evening and night hours, and therefore require sustained vigilance and strict enforcement. It reiterated that inspection and enforcement actions under Operation Clean Air will continue regularly across Delhi NCR, with focused efforts to identify and eliminate local sources of pollution.
The Commission said it is working in close coordination with all concerned agencies to ensure strict compliance with statutory directions, effective implementation of GRAP measures and sustained abatement of air pollution across the region.
