Around 65% of 157 industrial units in Gurugram could face fines and the cancellation of their operating permissions if they fail to install mandatory real-time emissions monitoring systems by September 30, according to the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB).
The units, located in industrial areas including Kadipur and Manesar, are required to install Online Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) and associated air pollution control devices. The systems are intended to measure pollutants such as suspended particulate matter (SPM), sulphur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), and transmit live emissions data to pollution control servers.
The requirement follows directions from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to the HSPCB for 157 industrial units in the food processing, metal and textile sectors. These sectors have been identified among the categories requiring closer monitoring because of their potential to generate significant industrial emissions.
According to the report, emissions records for all 157 units had been displayed, but only about 35% had installed the required equipment. The remaining units had sought additional time to comply. The deadline for installing the monitoring systems has now been extended to September 30, leaving the units with a final compliance window.
The monitoring system is expected to automatically synchronise and transmit live emissions data through an online portal to CPCB and state pollution control board servers. Without the connection, regulators cannot receive continuous information on emissions from the units, limiting the ability to monitor compliance remotely.
The HSPCB’s action places the focus on how industrial pollution rules are enforced beyond the issuing of consent and operating permissions. The affected units span sectors that form part of Gurugram’s industrial economy, while their emissions are also linked to the wider air-quality conditions of the National Capital Region. The report, however, does not provide a unit-wise breakdown of the industries that have installed the equipment or the specific emission levels recorded from individual facilities.
HSPCB regional officer Mukul Kathuria said the units that had not installed the online monitoring equipment had four days remaining to complete the process. He said operators that failed to follow the rules would face fines and that permission to operate could be stopped.
The deadline creates an immediate compliance test for the affected industries and the pollution control authorities. For the units, compliance requires installing the prescribed monitoring equipment and ensuring that the data is transmitted to the designated servers. For the regulator, the next step is to determine which units meet the requirement by September 30 and initiate enforcement against those that do not.
