Evaluate the role of the Commission for Air Quality Management in addressing the multi-jurisdictional nature of air pollution in the NCR.

Air pollution in the NCR does not stop at state borders. Industrial smoke, vehicle exhaust and stubble smoke move freely across Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) was set up under the CAQM Act, 2021 to give this shared airshed one authority in place of the court-created EPCA [6]. Its design is strong, but enforcement on the ground has been uneven.

Strengths: a single command for a shared airshed

• Inclusive composition: Delhi and the four neighbouring states each have an ex officio member, alongside CPCB and technical experts. This creates a working forum for cooperative federalism [5].
• Overriding powers: Section 12 lets CAQM close or regulate industries and cut off electricity or water [6]. Where orders conflict, its directions prevail over those of state governments, CPCB and SPCBs [5].
• Uniform standards: Direction Nos. 64 and 65 (2022) set one list of approved fuels for the whole NCR from 01.01.2023. Breaking it means closure plus Environmental Compensation [2].
• Direct enforcement: CAQM's own Flying Squads carry out incognito inspections. In one 12-day period they found 39 violations in 125 inspections [8].
• Technology-led coordination: The October 2026 order requires PTZ cameras on fuel storage areas and gas meters, with live feeds to CPCB and SPCB/DPCC servers. States must report compliance back to CAQM [1].

Limitations

• Relies on state machinery: CAQM issues directions, but SPCBs/DPCC carry them out. Uneven state capacity weakens results [1].
• Weak deterrence: Surprise visits still find a violation almost one time in three [8].
• Tight, reactive deadlines: Units have about 25 days to install cameras while regulators are still building the portals to receive the feeds. Small units bear most of the cost [1].
• Infrastructure gaps: The approved-fuels rule assumes units can get PNG/CNG. CAQM cannot lay that supply network itself [2].
• Farm economics: Directions alone have not ended winter stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana.

CAQM has given fragmented NCR governance a single legal anchor, uniform standards and its own enforcement arm. It is necessary and partly effective, but not yet sufficient. The way forward:

• build up state boards' capacity;
• fund the switch to cleaner fuels;
• use camera feeds to decide which units inspectors visit;
• publish compliance dashboards.

These steps would turn CAQM into a true regional airshed authority, securing the Article 21 right to clean air and SDG 11.6 on urban air quality.