The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to remove dust, waste and construction debris from roads, medians, footpaths and open plots by 31 October, warning of legal action if pollution-control measures are not implemented.
The directive comes ahead of the winter season, when Delhi-NCR regularly faces worsening air quality. The instructions were issued during a high-level review meeting with the MCD, attended by deputy commissioners from all 12 municipal zones, including Narela, Rohini, Karol Bagh, Old Delhi and Shahdara.
According to the report presented at the meeting, the MCD has begun intensifying cleaning operations across the city. Mechanical road-sweeping machines are being deployed on roads, while anti-smog guns, jetting machines and sprinklers are being used for deep cleaning and water sprinkling at identified pollution hotspots.
The CAQM has also asked the civic body to address conditions that generate dust instead of limiting operations to surface cleaning. The directions include repairing damaged roads and potholes, paving unpaved stretches and increasing greenery in areas that remain exposed. These measures are intended to reduce the re-suspension of road dust, a recurring challenge during Delhi’s dry and high-pollution months.
The commission has separately instructed authorities to monitor open waste burning and illegal dumping of construction and demolition debris during winter. MCD officials have presented their zone-wise preparedness and ongoing work during the review, according to the report.
The cleanup responsibility will also require coordination beyond the municipal corporation. CAQM has asked the MCD to work more closely with the Public Works Department, Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Jal Board and the Railways, as dust, waste and unpaved land can occur across areas controlled by different agencies.
The warning of legal proceedings places responsibility on officials and agencies responsible for implementing the measures. However, the report does not specify the number of roads or hotspots covered, the volume of debris targeted for removal, or the nature of the legal action that could follow non-compliance.
The 31 October deadline now becomes the immediate operational milestone for Delhi’s winter pollution-preparedness effort. The effectiveness of the response will depend on whether the instructions translate into sustained cleaning, road repairs, control of open dumping and coordinated enforcement across the city’s 12 municipal zones.
