New Delhi: Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed all 17 categories of highly polluting industries and other specified industrial units across Delhi-NCR to install and operationalise pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras by Nov 30 to strengthen remote monitoring of emissions and compliance with pollution-control norms.Earlier, the requirement applied only to select categories of industries, including food-processing and textile units.CAQM said inspections by its flying squads had found instances of industries using unapproved fuels despite directions restricting their use. The commission noted that industrial emissions, including particulate matter released through stacks and fugitive emissions from industrial processes, contribute significantly to air pollution in NCR, particularly during winter when unfavourable weather conditions limit the dispersion of pollutants.In its Oct 15 order, CAQM directed industries to install PTZ cameras at all fuel-feeding and charging points of boilers, thermic fluid heaters, furnaces, kilns and other fuel-fired equipment, wherever applicable. Units using gaseous fuels have been asked to position cameras to capture gas meters, gauges and related metering systems.The commission also directed industries to install cameras for monitoring stack emissions, Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS) sampling points and portholes, as well as fume-extraction system areas.“Industries must ensure that the number and positioning of cameras provide adequate coverage of relevant areas and operations without significant blind spots. Additional cameras must be installed wherever a single camera cannot cover all prescribed locations,” CAQM said.The cameras will be required to transmit real-time video feeds through Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) to designated servers or portals of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the respective state pollution control boards (SPCBs) or Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).“CPCB, in coordination with the respective SPCBs or DPCC, shall ensure necessary technical arrangements and associated infrastructure for receiving and accessing real-time video feeds from industries. The respective SPCBs/DPCC shall monitor compliance and ensure its effective implementation in their respective jurisdictions,” the commission said.
