Delhi imposes complete construction ban to tackle winter air pollution

Delhi's government has announced a comprehensive ban on all construction activities spanning over a month, from December 10 through January 20, as part of its strategy to mitigate air quality deterioration during the winter months. The decision comes as authorities seek to strengthen pollution control measures during the period when atmospheric conditions typically trap pollutants over the national capital.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said construction sites exceeding 500 square metres will be subject to round-the-clock monitoring via the Delhi government's Dust Portal and AI-enabled surveillance cameras. The administration has appealed to residents to report any violations of the construction ban to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, their elected representatives, or directly to the Chief Minister.

The new restrictions aim to address enforcement gaps identified during the previous winter season. Officials acknowledged that despite the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan, some construction activities had continued at various sites, with work being concealed behind protective coverings. Real-time monitoring technology will be deployed this year to prevent such circumvention of pollution control measures.

The construction ban forms part of a broader suite of anti-pollution initiatives undertaken by the Delhi government during the winter season, when meteorological conditions often result in hazardous air quality levels affecting millions of residents across the capital region.