The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has issued a directive mandating the expanded installation of Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras across industrial units in the National Capital Region. This step aims to enable comprehensive, real-time monitoring of fuel consumption and enforce strict statutory directions, particularly to mitigate industrial emissions ahead of the winter season. The decision follows incognito inspections by CAQM flying squads, which revealed repeated instances of industries using unapproved fuels despite pre-existing regulations.
Under the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), industrial facilities must install additional PTZ cameras by October 31, 2026. The mandated camera locations include all fuel storage areas, fuel charging points, and gas gauges or meters for facilities using gas-based fuels. These complement existing camera setups that monitor Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS) port-holes, stack emissions, furnace feeding zones, and fume extraction systems. Furthermore, industries are required to guarantee uninterrupted power backup to ensure continuous video feeds.
To operationalize remote vigilance, the video streams must be transmitted in real time to the servers of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and relevant State Pollution Control Boards or the DPCC. The regulatory bodies have been instructed to develop dedicated portals and digital infrastructure to process these live feeds, ensuring enhanced self-regulation and compliance. State pollution boards and the DPCC are required to submit their final implementation status report to the CAQM by November 1, 2026.
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