Dealing With the Commission for Air Quality Management

The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas was set up under the CAQM Act, 2021 to coordinate and take action on air pollution across Delhi, the NCR districts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, and adjoining areas of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh for matters such as stubble burning. It replaced the earlier Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority for NCR. The Commission has wide powers to issue directions to any person, officer or authority, and its directions on air quality prevail over those of other bodies in its area in case of conflict.

The Commission's standing directions cover industrial fuels, DG sets, construction dust, waste burning, brick kilns and vehicles. It administers the Graded Response Action Plan, revised in September 2026, and runs flying squads that inspect industries and sites and recommend or direct closure. This page explains how the Commission works, how its directions are enforced, and how to respond when your unit or site is closed or directed by it.

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The Commission at a glance

How the Commission's directions work

The Commission issues two kinds of directions. Standing directions lay down rules that apply all the time, such as the ban on coal and unapproved fuels for industry across NCR, requirements for DG sets, dust control measures for construction and demolition, and controls on waste burning. Specific directions are issued to particular units, sites or authorities, often after inspections, directing closure, compliance or other action. GRAP orders, issued as air quality changes, invoke or revoke stages with their lists of actions.

Implementation is largely through other agencies: state pollution control boards and the DPCC, municipal bodies, development authorities, district administrations and police. A closure direction recommended by a flying squad may be issued by the Commission itself or by the state board on the Commission's direction. Knowing which body issued the order matters for where to apply for revocation.

Flying squads and inspections

The Commission's flying squads carry out surprise inspections of industries, construction sites and other sources across NCR, especially in autumn and winter. They check fuel use, pollution control devices, DG sets, dust control measures, waste burning and compliance with GRAP restrictions. Findings are reported to the Commission, which may direct closure of non-compliant units and sites. Inspection reports often include photographs and short descriptions of violations.

During a flying squad inspection, cooperate, show documents such as consent, fuel invoices and genset certificates, and ask for a note of observations if possible. Many closures arise from obvious, visible violations, such as coal heaps near a boiler, or uncovered construction material, which are hard to dispute later.

Getting a closure revoked

The Commission revokes closure directions when units show that the violation has been remedied. The application should identify the direction, explain the violation, show the corrective action with evidence, and include any undertakings or bank guarantees required. Applications may be routed through the state board, which inspects and reports to the Commission. Revocations often come with conditions, such as continued use of approved fuel, regular reporting or deposit of environmental compensation.

Delays happen, especially in peak season when many units are closed at once. Follow up in writing, and keep the state board informed of the compliance. Where the closure was based on a clear mistake, point this out immediately with evidence.

How to deal with the Commission

Penalties and legal remedies

The CAQM Act provides penalties for contravention of its provisions and directions, and the Commission has also imposed environmental compensation, including for stubble burning by farmers under a separate framework. Directions of the Commission can be challenged before the National Green Tribunal, which has appellate jurisdiction over the Commission's orders under the Act, or in appropriate cases before the High Court or the Supreme Court, which has supervised air pollution matters in NCR for decades in M.C. Mehta v Union of India. In practice, most units find that compliance and revocation are faster than litigation, but legal remedies are available where the direction is unlawful or disproportionate.

Industries outside Delhi

The Commission's jurisdiction covers all NCR districts in Haryana, UP and Rajasthan, not only Delhi. Industries in Panipat, Sonipat, Bhiwadi, Alwar, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and other districts are subject to its fuel and DG set directions. Its jurisdiction over adjoining areas, such as Punjab, is used mainly for stubble burning and certain other sources affecting NCR air quality. Units in NCR districts far from Delhi sometimes assume the Commission's rules do not apply to them, which leads to closures.

Time and typical cost

Our fees are agreed in writing at the start, stage by stage. They are not linked to the outcome.

Common CAQM directions and what they require

Documents usually needed

Laws that apply

How we work

We are a litigation and advisory practice led by Advocate BK Singh, with offices in Dwarka (New Delhi) and Vaishali (Ghaziabad). This is what you can expect:

• Standing directions explained: for your unit or site.
• Pre-season readiness: before inspections begin.
• Fast revocation applications: through the right channel.
• Legal remedies where justified: NGT or High Court.
• Written fee terms: agreed stage by stage, never linked to the outcome.

Mistakes we see with CAQM matters