In order to curb dust pollution from construction and demolition (C&D) activities in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) today issued Statutory Direction No. 97 for strengthening dust mitigation measures and streamlining the management of demolition waste in the region.

The Commission observed that dust generated from C&D activities continues to be a consistent contributor to elevated levels of particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅) in the ambient air of the region. Despite existing statutory directions and guidelines, inspections carried out by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), and the Commission’s flying squads have revealed gaps in compliance, particularly in the handling and transportation of construction material and demolition debris.

Statutory Direction No. 97 also takes note of the newly notified Environment (Construction and Demolition) Waste Management Rules, 2025, which will come into force from April 1, 2026. These Rules place emphasis on environmentally sound waste management, circular economy principles, extended producer responsibility and strengthened compliance mechanisms.

The Commission noted that large-scale construction and demolition activities are currently underway in major cities of Delhi-NCR and have a significant contribution to the overall PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ load. In this context, Municipal Bodies and Development Authorities need to be better equipped to supervise and monitor dust abatement from such activities. While project proponents are responsible for managing demolition waste in a responsible manner before commencing construction, Municipal Bodies and Authorities are required to put in place mechanisms to facilitate scientific management of demolition waste.

Accordingly, to develop a robust system for effective management of demolition waste in major cities of Delhi-NCR having Municipal Corporations (including New Delhi Municipal Council) and/or Development Authorities, the Commission has directed the following:

·           Municipal Corporations / Development Authorities in Delhi-NCR shall ensure establishment of collection points, intermediate waste storage facilities and processing facilities in accordance with the provisions of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2025 in such a manner that there is at least one collection point within a grid of 5 km x 5 km area under their jurisdiction;

·           The Building Plan approving authorities in the concerned cities shall take a declaration of estimated quantity of demolition waste to be generated before granting the approval of building plan, in all the cases of projects with plot area equal to or more than 200 sq. meters, where demolition is required to be carried out prior to construction or re-construction;

·           Municipal Corporations / Development Authorities shall ensure that in all the cases of projects with plot area equal to or more than 200 sq. meters, where demolition is required to be carried out, the project proponent, prior to taking up construction or re-construction, shall deposit the demolition waste at any designated collection point or storage / processing facility and obtain the receipt for the same;

·           All agencies responsible for issuing Completion Certificate (CC) / Occupation Certificate (OC) in the concerned cities shall verify the receipt of deposition of demolition waste submitted by the project proponent, prior to issuance of CC / OC;

·           Municipal Corporations / Development Authorities shall ensure transportation and disposal of the construction & demolition waste within their jurisdiction in an environmentally sound manner in accordance with the extant Rules;

·           These Directions shall come into force w.e.f. 1^st April, 2026.

Further, the NCR State Governments and the Government of NCT of Delhi have been directed to ensure the establishment of an integrated web portal, geo-tagging of waste collection points and storage or processing facilities, and GPS tracking of transportation of construction and demolition waste to facilitate effective implementation of the Commission’s Directions.

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GS

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