The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has ordered all industries in the National Capital Region to install additional pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras to monitor fuel consumption and enforce compliance with pollution rules. The measure responds to repeated instances of industries using unapproved fuels despite existing restrictions, particularly during winter months when air quality deteriorates significantly.
Key facts
- Deadline for installation: 31 October 2026
- Implementation status to be reported to CAQM by: 1 November 2026
- Cameras must capture: fuel storage areas, fuel charging points, and gas meters (where applicable)
- Real-time video feeds must be streamed to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) or Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC)
- All cameras and connectivity must have adequate power backup
What the order requires
Industries must now install PTZ cameras at specific locations beyond those already mandated by the CPCB. The new requirements focus on comprehensive coverage of fuel-related activities. Cameras must be positioned to record all areas where fuel is stored, whether in tanks, containers or other facilities. They must also capture every point where fuel enters equipment or boilers, making it impossible to secretly refuel with unapproved substances.
For industries using gas-based fuels, the cameras must specifically record the gauge or meter display, providing a clear visual record of consumption levels and helping authorities track whether the declared fuel type matches actual usage patterns.
Real-time monitoring system
The order requires live video streaming to pollution control authorities rather than periodic inspections. The CPCB and respective state or territorial boards must develop digital portals and infrastructure to receive and analyse these feeds continuously. This allows authorities to detect violations immediately rather than waiting for scheduled inspections, which industrial units can sometimes anticipate or circumvent.
All industries are responsible for ensuring their cameras and internet connections remain operational at all times, with backup power systems in place to prevent blind spots during power outages.
Why this step became necessary
The CAQM had previously issued a list of approved fuels for different industrial applications across the NCR. However, flying squads conducting unannounced inspections repeatedly found industries burning unapproved fuels such as coal, pet coke or other cheap and heavily polluting materials. These cheaper fuels generate significantly higher emissions, worsening air quality especially during the winter season when weather patterns trap pollution near the ground.
Rather than rely solely on manual inspections that can be gamed or timed to miss violations, continuous camera surveillance creates a permanent record that deters non-compliance and provides evidence if violations occur.
Earlier camera requirements
The CPCB had previously ordered industries to install PTZ cameras and online continuous emission monitoring systems (OCEMS). The original order required cameras to capture emission monitoring device portholes and stack emissions for textile and food processing units with boilers, as well as furnace feeding areas in metal manufacturing units. The new CAQM order expands these requirements to include all fuel storage and charging points, creating a more complete surveillance system.
What this means for you
For residents and students in the NCR, stricter enforcement of fuel rules by industries should help reduce industrial pollution, one of the major contributors to winter smog. Better air quality directly affects respiratory health, particularly for children, elderly people and those with existing lung conditions.
For industries, the deadline of 31 October 2026 leaves about four months for procurement, installation and testing. Industries that fail to comply face the risk of legal action and regulatory penalties under pollution control laws.
For pollution control authorities, the system provides a transparent, auditable record of industrial compliance, reducing the need for surprise raids and making enforcement more efficient and objective.
What happens next
Industries must submit confirmation of camera installation to their respective pollution control boards by 31 October 2026. The CPCB and state boards must report overall compliance status to CAQM by 1 November 2026. Once installed, the real-time monitoring system will operate continuously to track fuel usage across all major industrial clusters in the NCR.