NEW DELHI: Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Saturday said the capital is witnessing high pollution levels mainly due to PM10 emissions from construction activity, dusty roads and traffic congestion, and that the government is intensifying efforts to identify and address hotspots.
Sirsa said the sanitation systems and road conditions require “a lot of work”, adding that gaps in local upkeep were significantly contributing to deteriorating air quality.
“The major reason for pollution in Delhi is PM10, which largely comes from construction sites, dust on roads and several other factors. We have identified 62 hotspots where traffic or dust are the main causes, and we are working on them,” he said.
He explained that “PM10 CAQM” refers to PM10 management by the Commission for Air Quality Management, which implements measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). These include restrictions on construction and industrial activity, regulating vehicular emissions and deploying anti-smog devices when pollution levels rise.
Sirsa said the onset of winter is worsening the situation, as accumulated dust gradually turns into smog. “The battle for a clean Delhi is against 10 major polluting factors. Stubble burning also contributes, but with the sowing season beginning, its impact will start declining,” he added.
He also noted that border areas continue to be affected by emissions from industrial units shifted to neighbouring regions. On November 11, the capital’s average AQI entered the ‘severe’ category for the first time this season—a level last recorded in December 2024. After three days in the ‘severe’ zone, the AQI improved slightly to the ‘very poor’ category on Friday.
The 13 identified hotspots include Anand Vihar, Wazirpur, Mundka, Okhla Industrial Area, Jahangirpuri, Narela, Punjabi Bagh and others that routinely record poor air quality. These zones are under continuous watch by DPCC and enforcement teams.