Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav stressed the need for faster implementation, better inter-agency coordination and measures to effectively curb pollution during a detailed review meeting with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini ahead of the winter season.

The remaining time before the onset of winter needs to be fully utilised to implement pollution control measures in mission mode, Yadav added, stressing the need for timely implementation, effective coordination and strict enforcement to bring about visible improvements in air quality across Delhi-NCR.

During the meeting, the minister reviewed measures to reduce road dust, including paving and greening roads, with a particular focus on identifying and repairing potholes, constructing footpaths and pavements, greening roadside areas and carrying out deep road cleaning. He also directed that all gaps in the deployment of mechanical road sweeping machines be filled by September this year and recommended the geo-tagging of all the machines so that they can be monitored and accountability can be improved.

Yadav also emphasised the use of electric mobility, urging the faster deployment of electric buses across the NCR municipal corporations of Haryana, while highlighting the need to expand the fleet. He urged authorities to expedite the issuance of End-of-Life (EoL) certificates and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to facilitate the movement of older and unfit vehicles outside the NCR, while also promoting their scientific scrapping. He further directed that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras be installed at all fuel stations to support the "No PUCC, No Fuel" campaign.

In the context of municipal solid waste and biomass burning, Yadav recommended setting up task forces and urged the complete collection of municipal solid waste (MSW) and biomass to prevent littering and open burning. He said that gaps in the procurement of crop residue management machinery should be filled by the state government, the establishment of Custom Hiring Centres should be expedited, and local elected representatives should identify areas prone to stubble burning in coordination with gram panchayats.