The Centre will ban dust-generating construction and demolition activities across Delhi and the National Capital Region from November 5 to 20 as part of intensified measures to control winter air pollution, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced on Friday.
The restriction will apply to outdoor civil construction and demolition work, with exemptions for projects of national importance. The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas is expected to issue the formal order on October 30. The announcement comes as air quality in Delhi and several cities in the region has deteriorated to poor and very poor levels.
Yadav said the measure was being introduced during the peak pollution period and would target activities that generate dust. The Commission for Air Quality Management, or CAQM, is also enforcing additional measures while Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan remains in force. Agencies across the National Capital Region have been directed to strengthen inspection and compliance monitoring.
The temporary ban coincides with the Deepavali period and the ongoing harvest season. Deepavali falls on November 8 this year, while stubble burning in the region is expected to increase as harvesting progresses. A senior official cited by The Hindu said the timing of the restriction reflected concerns about the combined impact of construction dust, firecrackers and agricultural fires.
The decision adds a region-wide restriction to measures already announced by the Delhi government. A gazette notification issued in June had prohibited dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction activity in Delhi from November 1 to January 31, while exempting essential public infrastructure projects. It also mandated work from home for 50% of government and private office staff in Delhi during the same period, subject to exemptions.
CAQM is expected to issue a further direction on 50% work from home for government and private offices in high vehicle-density districts, including Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar. The Commission has separately asked States to focus on vehicular pollution and stubble burning, alongside tighter inspection of pollution-control compliance.
The Minister said only 40% to 60% of the actions planned to combat air pollution had been completed in Delhi and neighbouring States. The formal CAQM order will establish the operational details of the construction and demolition restrictions, including the exemptions and enforcement requirements, from November 5.
