Written by Nikhil GhanekarNew Delhi | December 9, 2025 04:45 AM IST 3 min readIn Punjab, the area burnt has not reduced too significantly from 23,262 sq km to 19,757 sq km even as a huge decline was reported in the cases of farm fires — from 10,909 last year to 5,114 this year.Even as the Centre has directed measures against polluting industries in the National Capital Region (NCR) states, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) wants to also draw focus on industries outside NCR areas.As part of a slew of measures it had placed before the Supreme Court on November 19, the CAQM wants states adjoining Delhi to prepare action plans to eliminate use of coal as fuel in industries in non-NCR districts. This signals a shift to also focus on the polluting industries in non-NCR areas along with other emission sources. Thus far, action against air pollution sources beyond NCR areas have been focussed on stubble burning, brick kilns, and emissions from thermal power plants.“Action plan to be prepared by the state governments for elimination of coal as fuel in industries in non-NCR areas in the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab and submitted to the CAQM within 3 months,” the commission had submitted in its note before the apex court.The CAQM has a mandate to act against pollution sources in NCR as well as adjoining areas. Outside Delhi, NCR consists of 24 districts across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.A CAQM source said that the industries or sectors in non-NCR areas where coal is still used as one of the main fuels are steel mills, foundries, refractory and ceramics units, cement units, paper and pulp mills, textile, food processing, and brick kilns. These industries use coal, pet coke and furnace oil, and have not yet been covered by CAQM’s past directives on moving towards cleaner fuel alternatives.As per a CAQM affidavit filed in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in August 2024, out of 7,759 fuel-based industries in Delhi-NCR, 7,449 have been moved to approved, cleaner fuels while remaining 310 were either closed through directions or by the operators themselves. Natural gas, electricity, biofuels and biomass are among the fuels approved by CAQM.Meanwhile, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) warned earlier this week that out of 3,500 polluting industries in Delhi-NCR, 2,254 face the prospect of closure if they do not install air pollution-cutting devices and systems to monitor emission online.Among other crucial long-term measures CAQM had proposed to the top court was deliberating whether no new coal-based thermal power plants should be allowed to be established within 300 kms from Delhi and beyond, if required. CAQM sources said that it will discuss the issue with the Ministry of Power, including the scope of transitioning coal-fired plants to gas-based ones.Story continues below this adCoal-fired power plants contribute to sulphur dioxide and particulate matter pollution. In a 300-km radius of Delhi, there are 11 thermal power plants with 35 units and a combined installed capacity of 13,575 MW.Brick kilns beyond NCR districts already have to follow CAQM’s directions to use paddy straw-based biomass pellets/briquette for co-firing with a target of achieving 20% biomass fuel from November 1, increasing up to 50% through November 202An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change. Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Delhi air pollutionDelhi Pollution