'Action Against Offices, Sealing Of Hubs, Polluting Units': Delhi Minister Sirsa Amid Air Pollution

Last Updated:December 22, 2025, 11:20 IST

Delhi Minister Manjinder Sirsa announced strict enforcement under GRAP, warning of sealing of polluting hubs and action against private offices violating norms, amid air pollution.

New Delhi: Water sprinklers operate under dense fog on a winter morning (Photo: PTI)

Delhi’s air quality situation remains a cause of concern even as the government intensified enforcement under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), with Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Monday announcing strict action against polluting units and non-compliant establishments across the national capital.

Addressing a press conference on pollution, Sirsa said changing weather patterns had played a role in the recent deterioration of air quality.

“The western disturbances have caused a disruption in cold conditions in Delhi," he said, adding that the government was hopeful of some relief in the coming days.

“We can expect a better AQI level from tomorrow onwards," the minister stated.

He underlined that an extensive enforcement drive is currently underway across Delhi, aimed at identifying and sealing polluting hubs and factories.

Making the government’s position clear, Sirsa said, “An extensive drive in Delhi is ongoing for sealing of polluting hubs or factories."

He added that authorities would not follow the usual process of issuing warnings or notices.

“No issuance of certificate or notice for the sealing of those hubs, they will directly be sealed," he said.

Sirsa also announced that action would be taken against private offices found violating GRAP-4 norms.

“We are going to initiate an action against the private offices that are not adhering to the norms under the GRAP-4," he said, signalling stricter monitoring beyond industrial units.

Highlighting measures taken to curb vehicular pollution, the minister said that a large number of Pollution Under Control certificates have been issued in recent days.

“2,12,332 PUC from December 16 onwards have been issued," he said, pointing to intensified checks across the city.

The minister further stressed that waste management was a key focus area in the fight against pollution.

“Apart from this, from the garbage dumps across the National Capital, we are removing large quantities of solid waste in metric tonnes," Sirsa said.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta will convene a cabinet meeting on pollution at 12 pm to review the situation and discuss further steps.

Despite the enforcement measures, air quality in Delhi remained in the “very poor" category on Monday morning. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 366 around 8 am, showing a marginal improvement from Sunday when it was recorded at 377 at 4 pm. However, large parts of the city continued to be engulfed in toxic smog.

Several areas reported “very poor" air quality, including ITO with an AQI of 370. Thick smog was also seen around India Gate, Kartavya Path and Sarai Kale Khan. CPCB data showed Mundka recording an AQI of 400, Shadipur 306, Sonia Vihar 370 and Alipur 391, all falling in the “very poor" category. DTU also recorded an AQI of 400.

Some locations witnessed even worse conditions. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 402, slipping into the “severe" category. Wazirpur (404), Bawana (408) and Narela (418) also remained in the “severe" range.

In parallel, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has intensified enforcement against pollution-related violations. During December, MCD imposed fines amounting to Rs 54.98 lakh on violators. According to an official release, 7,023 challans totalling Rs 43.26 lakh were issued for illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste. An additional Rs 11.72 lakh in penalties was imposed on 420 violators for burning biomass and garbage.

The MCD also said that extra machinery, sanitation personnel and waste-collection vehicles have been deployed to clean garbage-vulnerable points across Delhi. Around 500 secondary collection points are being cleared at night, with the process being monitored daily.

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