CAQM seeks expert plans to mitigate pollution in Delhi-NCR

Targeting scientists, academicians and NGOs, the pollution body said it would fund feasible innovations and set a deadline of July 31 for submissions

Published on: Jun 20, 2025, 05:02:12 IST

By Jasjeev Gandhiok

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The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and adjoining areas issued a request for proposal (RFP), seeking innovations, ideas and technological solutions to tackle air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

A mist spraying machine at a construction site to curb dust pollution. (Archive)

Targeting scientists, academicians and NGOs, the pollution body said it would fund feasible innovations and set a deadline of July 31 for submissions.

“The project proposal needs to be as comprehensive as possible, outlining allocation of work, research plan, milestones and deliverables,” the CAQM said in the RFP document on its website.

The CAQM said the proposals must tackle nine sources of pollution, listing vehicular emissions (both exhaust and non-exhaust), industrial emissions (including thermal power plants), dust from construction and demolition (C&D) activities, dust from roads and open areas, burning of stubble, municipal solid waste and biomass (including open burning), emissions from households and dispersed sources, and sources at pollution hot spots.

“The R&D projects (approved) will be supported for a period of maximum up to three years. The financial support will be provided to meet the proposed recurring and non-recurring expenditure towards the project under the following heads and justification for the same,” the proposal said.

It said scientists, researchers and academicians working on air pollution should submit plans through their respective academic, scientific and research institutions, which are recognised by the government.

Under sections 12(2)(vi) and 12(6)(c)(iii) of the CAQM Act, the commission is empowered to carry out research and development works. CAQM was established in 2021 by the Centre, through an ordinance, to coordinate and oversee air pollution mitigation efforts in Delhi-NCR.

“Under this scheme CAQM is empowered to look at innovations and those approved will be provided with financial assistance,” a CAQM official said.

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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