New Delhi: Over 20% of units operating in Delhi’s non-conforming industrial areas were found violating air or water pollution norms during Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) inspections between Dec 1, 2025, and Sept 30, 2026. The civic body sealed 1,557 units.According to a latest report accessed by TOI, MCD surveyed 11,273 units across 250 wards till Sept 30, and found 2,299 violating pollution norms. Of them, 1,669 units were contributing to air pollution, while 630 were found polluting water. Enforcement action was initiated, with 705 vacated and 34 issued show-cause notices.The findings highlight the scale of industrial pollution in areas where factories operate without designated industrial land-use status — often in residential or mixed-use localities. The illegal operation of such units poses a challenge to enforcement agencies because of their proximity to residential areas and their impact on local air and water quality, said MCD officials.The report states that of the 1,557 units sealed, 1,111 were violating air pollution norms and 446 were contributing to water pollution. Shahdara North emerged as a major hotspot. It reported 370 polluting units, followed by Sadar Paharganj area (240) and central zone (140). At 146, west zone recorded the highest number of water pollution violations among the 12 zones. It was followed by Shahdara north where 126 units were polluting water, and 74 in Shahdara south.In the first two months after the survey was initiated in Dec 2025 according to directions of Delhi govt, MCD found one in every five units violating air or water pollution norms. It surveyed 4,711 industrial units across 220 out of 250 wards till Jan 9, 2026. Of these, 880 were polluting units.Corporation officials attributed repeated environmental violations in some areas to high industrial density and presence of small-scale units. “In the coming month, inspections and sealing drives will intensify to curb factors contributing to air and water pollution, with greater emphasis on monitoring compliance and ensuring accountability on the ground,” one of the officials said.While regular meetings are being called by Delhi govt since last month as part of an intensified enforcement drive, heads of departments have been directed to conduct regular field visits to review inspections and assess the effectiveness of action against polluting units.At the ward level, 250 MCD teams monitor local pollution sources, inspect decentralised construction and demolition (C&D) waste storage centres, and identify unpaved roads and stretches with significant potholes.“The teams also work alongside district magistrates (DMs) to identify and take action against unauthorised polluting industries,” said officials. Similar teams have also been formed in Delhi Cantt and New Delhi Municipal Council areas.To intensify enforcement in 48 non-conforming industrial pollution hotspots, the DMs have been asked to directly supervise drives against unauthorised units, including those engaged in metal casting, powder coating, buffing and polishing, plastic waste reprocessing, spray painting and heat treatment.
