The directions were issued during the sixth meeting of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), where senior officials reviewed the progress of air quality improvement initiatives in Dehradun and Rishikesh. The meeting focused on evaluating ongoing efforts to curb air pollution and identifying gaps in execution under the approved action plans.
During the review, the Chief Secretary underscored the urgency of translating policy into on-ground results, instructing all concerned departments to ensure that the sanctioned action plans are implemented within defined timelines. Emphasis was placed on coordinated efforts to address major pollution sources, particularly in rapidly urbanising areas.
Key departments, including Transport, the Public Works Department (PWD), and Urban Development, were assigned clear roles in controlling vehicular emissions, managing road dust, improving infrastructure planning, and strengthening urban pollution mitigation strategies. Officials were directed to intensify inter-departmental coordination to avoid delays and overlap in responsibilities.
The Chief Secretary also highlighted the importance of public participation in improving air quality. Departments were instructed to scale up public awareness campaigns aimed at promoting environmentally responsible behaviour, alongside accelerating plantation drives to enhance green cover in urban and semi-urban zones.
Officials present at the meeting were reminded that sustained improvements in air quality require continuous monitoring, strict enforcement, and community engagement. Progress reports from Dehradun and Rishikesh were reviewed in detail, with instructions to refine strategies wherever outcomes were found to be lagging.
The meeting concluded with a clear message that air pollution control remains a top administrative priority for the state. With firm timelines, defined departmental roles, and an emphasis on public awareness and ecological measures, the government signalled its intent to move from planning to measurable impact in safeguarding public health and environmental sustainability.
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