The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed pollution control authorities in Delhi-NCR to shut industrial units that have failed to place orders for installing or upgrading air pollution control devices (APCDs). Though not a new measure, it signals a tightening of enforcement of emission standards ahead of the winter pollution season.
The CPCB’s previous attempts at imposing deadlines have only had limited effect. Industries had cited delays in equipment procurement, higher costs and shortages of agencies capable of assessing existing systems. The direction comes ahead of restrictions scheduled to take effect in Delhi from November 1 under the government’s winter pollution management framework, which includes curbs on vehicles, construction activities and other pollution sources. Only around 200 of 2,321 identified industrial units had complied with the installation or retrofitting requirement by July 31, according to reports.
After peaking in the “poor” category around 222–232 mid-week (October 28–29), continuous rainfall dropped Delhi’s average AQI to 60 on Friday (October 30, 2026) and around 95 on Saturday morning (October 31, 2026), according to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology-maintained network.
