The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has initiated a comprehensive review of Uttar Pradesh’s efforts to tackle air pollution affecting the Delhi-NCR region. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav met with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on 18 September 2026 to assess progress and push for faster action ahead of the winter months when pollution typically worsens.
What the review covered
The meeting examined multiple sources of air pollution across several sectors. On roads, the Minister called for complete paving and greening work using local plant species, rapid repair of potholes, and better deployment of Mechanical Road Sweeping Machines with real-time tracking systems. The state was asked to speed up installation of electric vehicle charging stations and deployment of electric buses across NCR municipal areas.
For vehicle emissions, authorities were directed to accelerate issuance of No Objection Certificates for scrapping old vehicles, fast-track the Parivartan Scheme to replace polluting vehicles with electric ones, and install Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems at fuel stations to enforce the “No PUCC, No Fuel” rule.
Industrial pollution control requires faster installation of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems and Air Pollution Control Devices in factories. The state must also expedite collection centres for construction and demolition waste, clear accumulated legacy waste from landfills urgently, and close gaps in crop residue management machinery to reduce stubble burning.
The Minister emphasised that traffic congestion hotspots must be identified and cleared, sanitation worker numbers should match population ratios, and public awareness campaigns combined with farmer training programmes should intensify before winter arrives.
What this means for you
If you live in Delhi-NCR or Uttar Pradesh, the state government is being pushed to take concrete steps to reduce pollution through cleaner vehicles, better road maintenance, industrial controls, and waste management. The emphasis on implementing these measures “in mission mode” before winter suggests the government sees this as urgent. Public participation is being sought, meaning citizens are being called to follow pollution advisories and engage with authorities in this effort.