Chandigarh, April 24
The Haryana government will set up 23 additional air quality monitoring stations in the NCR, taking the total to 52 by July, while also planning to eliminate legacy solid waste within 11 months and introduce a policy to regulate transport services, officials said on Friday.
The decision was reviewed at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, who directed departments to adhere to timelines and ensure coordinated efforts to improve air quality across the region.
Officials said the expansion of the monitoring network aims to strengthen real-time tracking of pollution levels. The Haryana Pollution Control Board is expected to initiate the process for new stations shortly.
The government is also focusing on controlling emissions from vehicles, construction, and industry. Departments have been asked to prepare detailed plans with clear timelines to address these sources of pollution.
In addition, the state plans to eliminate legacy solid waste within the next 11 months as part of its broader environmental strategy. Measures are also being taken to develop dust-free model roads and strengthen the enforcement of pollution norms.
Transport-related reforms are also in the pipeline. Principal Secretary, Transport, Raja Shekhar Vundru, said a new aggregator policy will be introduced to regulate cab and ride-sharing services. The government is also working to phase out older vehicles and promote cleaner alternatives such as CNG and electric vehicles.
With a mix of monitoring expansion, regulatory measures, and infrastructure upgrades, the state aims to bring sustained improvement in air quality across NCR areas while addressing waste management and transport-related pollution challenges.
