CAQM Mandates PTZ Camera-Based Real-Time Remote Monitoring for All Industries Under Statutory Direction No. 98 in NCR
Distilled Policy Brief
- The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and Adjoining Areas has mandated the installation and operation of Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras for remote monitoring in all categories of industries under Statutory Direction No. 98, superseding the previous October 5, 2026 order.
- The directive covers 17 heavily polluting industries identified by CPCB, red category industries (medium and large), food processing/textile units with boilers/thermic fluid heaters, and metal industries with furnaces, requiring real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) video feeds to CPCB and SPCB/DPCC servers by November 30, 2026.
- Industries must ensure uninterrupted power backup, optimal camera placement covering fuel-feeding points, gas meters, stack emissions, and OCEMS port-hole locations to prevent blind spots and curb unauthorized fuel usage during winter peak pollution periods.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
Under CAQM Statutory Direction No. 98, specified industries in the NCR must install PTZ cameras for real-time video streaming of fuel usage, boilers, furnaces, and stack emissions to CPCB/SPCB servers by November 30, 2026.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Examine how technology-enabled remote monitoring frameworks like PTZ camera surveillance can bridge implementation gaps in enforcing industrial emission standards and curbing air pollution in the National Capital Region.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the recent directives issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and Adjoining Areas, consider the following statements regarding remote monitoring of industries: 1. The mandate for installing Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras applies to all categories of industries under Statutory Direction No. 98, including heavily polluting industries identified by the CPCB. 2. The industries are required to provide real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) video feeds exclusively to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) servers, excluding State Pollution Control Boards. 3. The cameras must be positioned to cover fuel-feeding points, gas meters, stack emissions, and OCEMS port-hole locations without leaving blind spots. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- [A] 1 and 2 only
- [B] 2 and 3 only
- [C] 1 and 3 only
- [D] 1, 2 and 3
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
Statement 1 is correct as CAQM has mandated PTZ cameras for all categories of industries under Statutory Direction No. 98, including CPCB-identified heavily polluting industries. Statement 2 is incorrect because the video feeds via RTSP must be provided to both the CPCB and the respective State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/DPCC servers, not exclusively to CPCB. Statement 3 is correct as industries must ensure optimal camera placement covering fuel-feeding points, gas meters, stack emissions, and OCEMS port-hole locations without blind spots.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.