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The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has pulled up the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) over continued gaps in the monitoring of construction and demolition sites.
A review meeting was organized on 8 September 2026 following the observations made by CAQM in terms of malfunctioning links between web-cameras installed at the registered C&D facilities. The Commission had been using HSPCB's portal for sample-based remote checks and found problems ranging from incorrect login details to offline cameras and links that did not open as expected.
The issue matters to builders and project owners because the Statutory Directions referred to in the release cover C&D projects with a plot area of 500 sq. metres or more. Such projects are required to be registered and have functional video-monitoring arrangements so that dust-control measures can be checked remotely.
The September development does not create a fresh C&D monitoring regime. It is mainly about whether the existing system is actually being implemented and enforced.
| Particular | Details |
| Authority raising the issue | Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas |
| State authority reviewed | Haryana State Pollution Control Board |
| Development | Review of compliance with CAQM Statutory Directions |
| Review meeting | 8 September 2026 |
| PIB release | 9 September 2026 |
| Sector | Construction and demolition |
| Main threshold mentioned | Plot area of 500 sq. metres or more |
| Main requirement referred to | Registration and functional video monitoring |
| Monitoring method | Remote monitoring through the State/GNCTD web portal |
| Monitoring period discussed | 19 June 2026 to 22 June 2026 |
| Observations communicated | 8 July 2026 |
| Main problem found | Web-camera links at most sites were non-functional |
| Enforcement direction | Stronger monitoring, corrective action and enforcement |
| Possible action | Closure of non-compliant sites |
| New effective date | Not separately specified |
| New compliance deadline | Not separately specified |
The focus of the release is therefore not on adding another layer of paperwork. CAQM's concern is whether the monitoring arrangement that already exists can actually be used for checking dust-control measures at C&D sites.
CAQM is responsible for coordinating and directing measures for the prevention and control of air pollution in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas.
Construction activity comes under regulatory attention because dust generated from excavation, demolition, movement of materials, and other site activities can contribute to local air-pollution levels when prescribed controls are not followed.
For the present update, the most relevant point is what the PIB release itself says: CAQM's Statutory Directions mandate registration of C&D projects with a plot area of 500 sq. metres or above, along with the installation of functional video-monitoring systems through the relevant State/GNCTD web portal.
The portal allows authorities to view sites remotely and check whether prescribed dust-mitigation measures are being implemented.
The release does not state the number of each underlying CAQM direction. It is therefore safer to describe the September action as an enforcement and implementation review of existing directions, rather than presenting it as a newly introduced rule.
The review meeting followed repeated monitoring problems rather than a single technical failure.
As per CAQM, sample-based remote monitoring was being done using the HSPCB website portal from 2024. However, during the sample checking process, it was observed that there were some recurring problems related t
o web-camera access. The problems were communicated to HSPCB from time to time for corrective action. CAQM had also advised the Board to deploy a dedicated team so that remote monitoring through the portal could be managed more effectively.
According to the release, a dedicated team had not been deployed, and substantial improvement was not seen. CAQM therefore called HSPCB for the 8 September review and sought information on the compliance position, action taken, and notices already issued.
So, this was not merely a routine coordination meeting. It came after earlier deficiencies had continued.
The press release points to two basic requirements for the C&D projects covered by the relevant directions: registration of the project and availability of a functional video-monitoring system.
Registration of Covered C&D Projects
The threshold mentioned in the release is straightforward:
C&D projects having a plot area of 500 sq. metres or more.
The wording matters. The document speaks about plot area. It should not automatically be rewritten as built-up area, carpet area, floor area, or total construction area.
Functional Video Monitoring
For covered projects, merely installing a camera does not appear to satisfy the purpose of the monitoring framework if that camera cannot be accessed remotely.
A monitoring arrangement may fail in practice when:
Connection With the Web Portal
The release refers to functional video-monitoring systems made available through the relevant State/GNCTD web portal.
This allows authorities to remotely check whether dust-mitigation measures are being followed at the site.
The PIB release does not prescribe camera models, storage periods, image quality, internet speed, or technical placement standards. Those details should not be added unless they are separately supported by an applicable official direction.
The clearest applicability point in the release is the 500 sq. metre plot-area threshold.
| Project Category | Position From the Release | Directly relevant to HSPCB monitoring |
| C&D project with plot area of 500 sq. metres or more | Covered by the requirement referred to by CAQM | Registration and functional video monitoring are relevant |
| Project below 500 sq. metres | Same monitoring requirement not established by this release | Other environmental rules may still apply separately |
| Registered Haryana C&D sites | Directly relevant to HSPCB monitoring | Camera access and dust-control monitoring need attention |
A small contractor working on a large project should also avoid confusing the threshold with the contractor's own business size. The criterion mentioned by CAQM relates to the project's plot area, not whether the contractor is an MSME or a large company.
The monitoring system is intended to give authorities a way to check site conditions without physically visiting every project each time.
In simple terms, the process referred to in the release works like this:
CAQM says sample-based monitoring through the HSPCB portal has been carried out since 2024.
That makes continuous functionality important. A camera link that worked when first submitted may later become unusable because of a password change, technical failure, network issue, or an offline camera.
The deficiencies reported by CAQM were not all of the same type. Some were concerned with access, some were related to incorrect credentials, while others involved camera availability itself.
Incomplete or Insufficient Web-Camera Links
Some links did not provide adequate access for remote monitoring.
From a compliance point of view, a portal entry is of limited use if the regulator cannot reach the relevant camera feed through it.
Incorrect User ID or Password
CAQM also found incorrect login credentials.
A camera may be running at the project site, but the monitoring system still fails if the authority cannot access it using the credentials provided.
Links Prompting Mobile-App Installation
Certain links reportedly asked users to install a mobile application.
The release identifies this as one of the discrepancies. It does not, however, state that the use of mobile applications is prohibited in every circumstance. The problem should therefore be explained as an access issue observed during monitoring, rather than turned into a wider legal prohibition.
Non-Working Web Links
A number of web links were found to be non-functional.
This is important because simply uploading or registering a URL does not provide meaningful monitoring when the link itself cannot be used.
Cameras Remaining Offline After Login
In some cases, CAQM was reportedly able to log in but still found that the cameras were offline.
That makes the distinction between having access details and having an operational monitoring system especially important.
One of the more important parts of the release is the monitoring exercise conducted from 19 June 2026 to 22 June 2026.
CAQM checked registered active C&D sites through the HSPCB portal across Panipat, Sonipat, Faridabad, Gurugram (North) and Gurugram (South).
The Commission reported that web-camera links at most of these sites were non-functional.
The findings were communicated to HSPCB on 8 July 2026.
The figures in the release should be read as data relating to the active registered sites referred to in this monitoring exercise. They should not be presented as the total number of every construction project operating in Haryana.
District-Wise Status of C&D Sites and Web-Camera Links
| Area | Active C&D Sites Mentioned | Functional Links Specifically Reported |
| Panipat | 213 | Not separately stated |
| Sonipat | 457 | Not separately stated |
| Faridabad | 168 | 4 |
| Gurugram (North) | 691 | 6 |
| Gurugram (South) | 484 | 5 |
The release specifically records functional links at 4 sites in Faridabad, 6 sites in Gurugram (North), and 5 sites in Gurugram (South).
It does not separately provide a number of functional links for Panipat and Sonipat. For that reason, it would be inaccurate to write “zero functional cameras” for those two locations unless another official record confirms it.
The wider finding is clear enough without making that assumption: CAQM said the links on most sites were non-functional.
The cameras are not meant to exist only as an entry in a compliance file. Their purpose is to make remote checking possible.
A working system can allow an authority to see whether the site is accessible for monitoring and whether dust-control measures can be observed through the feed.
From a regulatory perspective, this helps in several ways:
A camera cannot prove complete environmental compliance on its own. It is simply one monitoring tool.
CAQM's concern was that when the links do not work, the basic purpose of the web portal, remote monitoring and verification of dust-control measures, is weakened.
The seriousness of the matter comes from the fact that the deficiencies were not being reported for the first time.
CAQM had already communicated the monitoring problems and had advised HSPCB to strengthen its system. The Commission also recommended the deployment of a dedicated team for portal-based monitoring.
The release states that neither the dedicated team was deployed nor was substantial improvement observed.
Against this background, CAQM treated the continued discrepancies and non-compliance as wilful non-compliance on the part of the designated authority responsible for enforcement of its directions.
That wording needs to be handled carefully.
It does not mean that CAQM declared every builder, contractor or project owner in Haryana to be in wilful non-compliance. The observation in the release is directed at the enforcement and implementation position of the designated authority.
Individual C&D sites may still face action where they themselves do not comply with applicable requirements, but those are separate questions.
After reviewing the position, CAQM directed HSPCB to ensure strict compliance with the Commission's Orders and Statutory Directions.
The Board was asked to take corrective steps so that the monitoring system works properly and enforcement improves at the site level.
The main directions arising from the meeting include:
The Commission also indicated that corrective measures may include closure of non-compliant sites.
No fresh universal deadline is stated in the PIB release.
Yes. Closure is expressly mentioned in the PIB release as one of the corrective measures that may be taken against non-compliant sites.
That statement should not be exaggerated into a blanket closure order.
CAQM has not said in this release that:
The position is narrower. HSPCB has been asked to strengthen enforcement and take necessary corrective measures, including closure where sites are found non-compliant.
No new monetary penalty, fixed closure period, or automatic prosecution mechanism is stated in this particular PIB release.
For businesses, the most practical message is simple: paper compliance and working compliance are not always the same thing.
A project may be registered and may even have cameras installed. That does not solve the problem if the regulator cannot access those cameras when monitoring takes place.
Builders and Developers
Builders responsible for covered C&D projects should verify whether the monitoring arrangement remains functional after it is set up.
The review should not stop at asking whether cameras have been installed. The real question is whether the feed can be opened remotely.
Project Owners
Project owners should know:
EPC and Construction Contractors
Where contractors manage day-to-day site operations, they may be involved in maintaining dust controls or monitoring infrastructure.
The exact legal responsibility of each contractor depends on the contractual arrangement and applicable regulatory requirement. It should not automatically be assumed merely from this PIB release.
Environmental and Compliance Teams
Environmental teams should pay particular attention to operational gaps.
A broken link may appear to be an IT issue, but if that link forms part of a regulatory monitoring system, it can become a compliance concern as well.
MSME Contractors
Smaller contractors working on larger projects should not interpret the 500 sq. metre threshold as an MSME exemption.
The threshold mentioned in the release relates to the project plot area.
The following checklist combines the source-based concerns with practical internal controls.
| Compliance Area | What Should Be Checked | Nature |
| Applicability | Whether the project falls within the relevant CAQM requirement | Regulatory review |
| Plot area | Confirm whether the 500 sq. metre threshold is met | Source-based |
| Registration | Check registration where required | Source-based |
| Camera installation | Confirm required video-monitoring arrangement exists | Source-based |
| Camera functionality | Check whether cameras are actually operating | Source-based concern |
| Web link | Open each regulator-facing link and verify access | Source-based concern |
| Credentials | Test User ID/password details | Source-based concern |
| Camera status | Check whether feed shows online rather than offline | Source-based concern |
| Dust measures | Review actual implementation at the site | Source-based compliance area |
| Internal ownership | Assign responsibility for periodic monitoring checks | Recommended control |
| Rectification record | Keep a record when technical problems are corrected | Recommended control |
| Compliance review | Periodically check wider environmental obligations | Recommended control |
An internal control marked as “recommended” should not be presented as a separate legal requirement created through the September press release.
There are two different kinds of risk here: regulatory risk that is expressly supported by the release, and practical business risk that may follow from poor compliance.
Regulatory and Enforcement Risks
The clearest regulatory concern is stronger enforcement.
CAQM has instructed the concerned authorities to improve monitoring and take corrective action. The release specifically refers to the closure of non-compliant sites.
The document does not set out a new fine or environmental-compensation amount, so no such figure should be attached to this update without a separate legal basis.
Practical Business Risks
Weak monitoring can also create operational problems, such as:
These are practical consequences, not automatic statutory penalties.
CAQM has linked effective implementation of its directions with the broader objective of preventing and controlling air pollution in the National Capital Region.
Construction-site monitoring only works when two things happen together:
A portal filled with registered projects cannot serve its intended purpose if regulators cannot access the cameras attached to those projects.
For this reason, CAQM has asked agencies to strengthen both monitoring and on-ground enforcement rather than treating portal registration as the end of the compliance process.
Stronger remote monitoring can improve regulatory oversight, but it also places an ongoing operational responsibility on project teams.
Where Stronger Monitoring Helps
A functional remote-monitoring system can make it easier to:
From an enforcement point of view, that makes the monitoring system more useful than relying only on one-time documentation.
Where Businesses May Feel the Burden
Project operators may have to deal with regularly:
For businesses with limited compliance staff, these tasks can add another layer of site management.
Even then, the September review suggests that the regulator's concern is not simply whether equipment has been purchased. The emphasis is on whether the entire arrangement remains usable.
Businesses do not need to wait for a regulatory query before checking their own systems.
Step 1: Check Whether the Project Is Covered
Confirm the plot area and assess whether the relevant CAQM monitoring requirement applies.
Step 2: Verify Registration
Where registration is required, check whether the project is properly reflected on the relevant portal.
Step 3: Open the Camera Link From Outside the Site
A local camera display is not enough. Test whether the actual remote link can be accessed.
Step 4: Recheck Login Credentials
Ensure that the User ID and password provided for monitoring purposes are up-to-date.
Step 5: Look for Offline Cameras
A working login does not help if the camera itself remains offline.
Step 6: Review Dust-Control Measures
The monitoring system should reflect actual environmental compliance on the ground.
Project teams should therefore review the prescribed dust-mitigation measures rather than focusing only on camera connectivity.
Step 7: Rectify Technical Problems Quickly
Broken links, incorrect credentials, and offline feeds should be corrected once detected instead of being allowed to remain unresolved.
Step 8: Create Clear Internal Responsibility
The site team should know who is responsible for checking the monitoring system.
This is a practical control rather than a new duty created by the PIB release.
Step 9: Review Regulatory Communications Carefully
If CAQM, HSPCB or another authority sends a notice or seeks information, the business should compare that communication with the actual site position and the applicable direction before responding.
Where the issue is unclear, taking support from an environmental compliance consultant may help the business organise the facts and supporting records before filing a response.
Yes. The Commission has expressly stated that it will continue to closely monitor compliance and take necessary measures for effective mitigation of air pollution in the region.
For project operators, this is a reason to treat camera functionality as an ongoing compliance matter.
A system that worked six months ago may not work today. Passwords change, hardware fails, and internet links become unavailable.
Regular internal checks can therefore be useful even though the PIB release does not prescribe a new inspection frequency or periodic testing schedule for businesses.
Environmental compliance at a construction project often involves more than obtaining a document and keeping it in a file. Actual site conditions, applicable pollution-control requirements, records, and monitoring arrangements also need attention. Corpseed's environmental compliance services can support builders, developers, and project operators who need help reviewing applicable requirements and identifying compliance gaps.
1. Applicability Assessment
Corpseed can assist corporations in evaluating the relevance of various environmental and pollution control standards to an intended or existing construction project.
The assessment may consider factors such as:
2. Environmental Compliance Gap Assessment
A compliance gap assessment can help identify the difference between what a project is expected to maintain and what is actually happening at the site.
The review may cover documentation, operational controls, and supporting compliance records, depending on the scope of work.
3. Construction Environmental Compliance Support
Projects dealing with construction and demolition activities can seek construction environmental compliance services for assistance with applicable regulatory requirements and documentation.
The service should be matched to the actual requirement instead of adding licences or approvals that do not apply to the project.
4. Pollution Control Compliance Services
Corpseed can assist businesses with relevant pollution control compliance services, including support around applicable environmental approvals, regulatory documentation and compliance requirements where required.
5. Documentation and Record Review
Regulatory problems are harder to manage when records are scattered across site, legal, environmental and administrative teams.
Corpseed can support businesses in organising relevant documents and checking whether supporting information is available for compliance review.
6. Compliance Notice Support
Whenever the project has been communicated by the pollution control authority, the very first thing is to know exactly what was asked for. Corpseed can help in:
7. Ongoing Environmental Compliance Support
Businesses that manage multiple sites may also require regular environmental regulatory compliance services rather than addressing each issue only after a notice is received.
The objective of continuous support is to detect deficiencies as early as possible and maintain compliance duties in an organized manner. This will not provide approval nor prevent any authority from acting on the non-compliance.
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