CAQM Flags Road Dust and C&D Waste Violations During Special Inspection in Ghaziabad

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has identified multiple instances of excessive road dust and improper construction waste handling during a special inspection drive conducted across Ghaziabad as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen air pollution control measures in the Delhi-NCR region.

The large-scale inspection, carried out on 26 May 2026 under the Commission’s continuing “Operation Clean Air” initiative, focused on assessing visible road dust levels and evaluating the effectiveness of road cleaning and sweeping operations being undertaken by the Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam.

Officials stated that road dust remains one of the major contributors to particulate pollution in urban areas and requires sustained mitigation efforts, particularly in rapidly urbanising regions such as Ghaziabad.

Ten Flying Squads Deployed Across Ghaziabad

To conduct the inspection drive, the Commission deployed:

• 10 Flying Squads

across various locations falling under the jurisdiction of the Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam.

The inspection covered:

• Four major zones and operational areas

within the city.

The teams carried out field-level assessments of:

• Road dust accumulation

• Sweeping operations

• Dust suppression systems

• Handling of construction and demolition (C&D) waste

• Compliance with prescribed pollution mitigation norms

Multiple Pollution Hotspots Identified

During the inspection, officials identified:

• 24 separate instances

of excessive visible road dust and accumulation of C&D waste across several important road stretches and urban areas.

The violations were reported at locations including:

• Surdas Marg

• Meerut Road

• Tagore Road

• B. N. Sharma Road

• St. Thomas Marg

• Maharana Pratap Marg

• Industrial Area Road (E Block)

among others.

According to the Commission, the observations revealed:

• Gaps in regular sweeping operations

• Insufficient dust suppression activities

• Poor handling and disposal of construction debris

• Weak monitoring systems

CAQM Orders Immediate Corrective Measures

Following the inspection, the Commission directed the concerned authorities to intensify pollution mitigation measures across affected areas.

The CAQM specifically instructed officials to undertake:

• Comprehensive deep cleaning operations

• Regular mechanized road sweeping

• Targeted water sprinkling

• Prompt removal of accumulated construction waste

• Scientific disposal of C&D debris

The Commission emphasised that mitigation efforts must be continuous and systematic rather than reactive or temporary.

Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam Asked to Strengthen Enforcement

The Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam has also been advised to improve:

• Monitoring systems

• Enforcement mechanisms

• Anti-dumping controls

• Operational supervision

to prevent:

• Unauthorized dumping of waste

• Re-accumulation of dust

• Non-compliance with pollution control standards

The Commission stated that proper implementation of dust control protocols remains critical for reducing urban air pollution levels.

Accountability Warning Issued to Officials

CAQM warned that lapses in implementation of prescribed dust mitigation measures would be treated seriously.

The Commission instructed authorities to:

• Fix accountability

• Identify responsible officers

• Initiate appropriate action where negligence is found

The move reflects growing pressure on urban local bodies to maintain stricter compliance with environmental standards in NCR cities.

Road Dust Major Contributor to PM Pollution

The Commission highlighted that road dust continues to significantly contribute to elevated:

• Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5)

levels across Delhi-NCR.

Environmental studies have repeatedly identified:

• Road dust

• Construction activity

• Vehicle emissions

• Industrial pollution

as key contributors to poor air quality in the region.

Officials stated that effective dust control requires:

• Continuous on-ground vigilance

• Regular maintenance operations

• Mechanized cleaning systems

• Scientific waste disposal

• Strict enforcement

Operation Clean Air Inspections to Continue

The CAQM confirmed that inspection drives under “Operation Clean Air” will continue across Delhi-NCR to identify:

• Localised pollution hotspots

• Dust emission sources

• Non-compliance areas

• Urban pollution risks

The initiative forms part of broader regional efforts to improve air quality and strengthen implementation of pollution control measures across NCR cities.

Authorities and municipal officials assured the Commission that corrective actions based on the inspection findings would be undertaken on priority.

Delhi-NCR Continues Focus on Urban Air Pollution Control

The inspection comes amid continuing concerns over deteriorating air quality across the National Capital Region, where dust pollution remains a persistent issue throughout the year.

Regulatory agencies have increasingly focused on:

• Mechanized road sweeping

• Construction site regulation

• Dust suppression systems

• Waste management compliance

• Real-time pollution monitoring

to reduce particulate pollution levels.

Experts have repeatedly warned that without sustained enforcement and infrastructure improvements, urban dust pollution can significantly worsen respiratory health risks and overall air quality in densely populated NCR cities.