CAQM pulls up DDA for high dust levels on roads

This followed inspections that flagged high dust levels, waste accumulation, and open burning as part of its ongoing “Operation Clean Air drive” crackdown on road dust, a major pollution contributor.

Published on: Dec 15, 2025, 04:48:16 IST

By Jasjeev Gandhiok, New Delhi

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The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Sunday pulled up the Delhi Development Authority for “recurring negligence” in maintaining roads under its jurisdiction. This followed inspections that flagged high dust levels, waste accumulation, and open burning as part of its ongoing “Operation Clean Air drive” crackdown on road dust, a major pollution contributor.

Delhi AQI on Sunday breached the 500-mark (HT photo)

On December 12, 19 inspection teams from CAQM flying squads and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee assessed 136 DDA-maintained road stretches, submitting geotagged and time-stamped photographs. According to the findings, 15 stretches recorded high levels of visible dust, 38 showed moderate dust, 61 had low dust intensity, and 22 had no visible dust.

“The above-stated observations clearly indicate evident gaps and recurring negligence in the upkeep of the concerned stretches. DDA needs to enhance its operational efficiency and take prompt corrective measures through consistent and timely dust mitigation interventions. The agency also needs to deliver improved compliance across all road stretches for solid waste or biomass burning,” the Commission stated. However, CAQM has not fixed any deadlines for the DDA to take action regarding the matter.

Inspectors also flagged poor waste management: municipal solid waste accumulation was observed on 55 road stretches, construction and demolition waste on 53 stretches, and evidence of waste or biomass burning at six locations.

The DDA did not respond to multiple requests for a comment from HT on the allegations.

The Commission directed the DDA to strengthen on-ground interventions, including regular mechanical sweeping, timely disposal of collected dust, proper upkeep of road shoulders and central verges, and wider deployment of water sprinkling and dust suppression systems. It also called for focused action to prevent open burning of waste along all its roads, calling these measures essential for sustained dust reduction and improved air quality.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jasjeev Gandhiok
Jasjeev Gandhiok is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times, where he covers environment, climate change, the clean energy transition and wildlife at the National Bureau. Gandhiok has over a decade of experience in journalism and is based in Delhi. He has reported extensively on Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This includes the region's air pollution woes, a polluted Yamuna and on urban wildlife still thriving in the region. He joined HT in October 2021. Prior to that, he had five-year stint at The Times of India in Delhi, where he also covered Delhi, with a focus on environment and wildlife. Gandhiok has covered some recent events around the Capital too, ranging from the farmers' protests, the northeast Delhi riots and the CAA-NRC protests, reporting from the ground on all of these. He also travels across the country to report on how environment and climate change impact everyday life, while also writing on endangered species. His reports in 2019 on toxic leachate from Delhi's landfills led to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) taking suo motu cognisance and ultimately asking the state government to start bio-mining to flatten and remove all three landfills in the capital. He also closely tracks the implementation of government policies on climate, renewable energy and environmental protection. His focus remains on impactful, public-interest journalism which explains how environmental decisions affect people's everyday lives.Read More

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