The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) held a review meeting on September 8, 2026, with the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) regarding non-compliance with statutory directions mandating registration of all construction and demolition (C&D) projects with plot area of 500 sq. metres or above and installation of functional video monitoring systems on the state web portal for remote monitoring of dust mitigation measures.
CAQM has been conducting sample-based remote monitoring through HSPCB's web portal since 2024, consistently observing multiple discrepancies including incomplete web-camera links, incorrect login credentials, non-working web links, and cameras remaining offline. During a specific monitoring exercise from June 19-22, 2026, CAQM found severely inadequate functional camera coverage across five Haryana districts: out of 213 active C&D sites in Panipat, 457 in Sonipat, 168 in Faridabad, 691 in Gurugram (North), and 484 in Gurugram (South), functional web-camera links were available at only 4 sites in Faridabad, 6 sites in Gurugram (North), and 5 sites in Gurugram (South), totaling just 15 functional sites out of 2,013 active construction sites.
The Commission had previously advised HSPCB on July 8, 2026, about these deficiencies and recommended deploying a dedicated monitoring team, but neither action was implemented. CAQM has treated this inaction as willful non-compliance by the designated enforcement authority. During the review meeting chaired by Shri Rajesh Verma, HSPCB was directed to ensure strict compliance with all statutory directions, take necessary corrective measures including closure of non-compliant sites, and strengthen monitoring and enforcement mechanisms for uninterrupted remote monitoring of C&D sites.
CAQM emphasized that effective implementation of dust mitigation measures through proper monitoring is critical for prevention and abatement of air pollution in the National Capital Region. The Commission will continue to closely monitor compliance and take necessary measures for effective air pollution mitigation in the region.