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Pollution Crackdown: Coal Fires Banned in Non-NCR States
9 Dec
Summary
- CAQM directs states to plan coal fuel elimination in industries outside NCR.
- Steel, cement, and brick kilns are among sectors using coal in non-NCR areas.
- New thermal power plants near Delhi may be prohibited, sources suggest.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is intensifying its fight against air pollution by extending its focus to industrial areas outside the National Capital Region (NCR). States bordering Delhi, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab, have been directed to develop action plans within three months to phase out coal as an industrial fuel in their non-NCR districts.
This directive targets various industries such as steel mills, cement units, foundries, and brick kilns, which continue to rely on coal, pet coke, and furnace oil. While thousands of industries within Delhi-NCR have transitioned to cleaner fuels, these non-NCR facilities have not been previously covered by similar mandates. The CAQM's broader mandate includes tackling pollution sources in both NCR and adjacent areas.
