The interaction brought together innovators and senior officials from central and state government agencies to explore ways of converting emerging technologies into solutions that can be implemented on the ground. Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh and Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa were also present at the meeting.

The discussions covered nine key areas of air pollution management, including industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, construction dust, road maintenance, crop-residue burning and waste management. The initiative forms part of the campaign ‘Saaf Hawa Mein Hissedaari, Hum Sabhi Ki Hai Zimmedaari’, which seeks wider participation in improving air quality.
A major focus of the meeting was the use of artificial intelligence, sensors, satellite imagery, drones and data analytics to identify pollution sources and strengthen monitoring systems.
Proposals included AI-based detection of industrial emission violations, real-time monitoring of diesel generator pollution-control systems and improved oversight of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS). The technologies could help authorities identify irregularities more quickly and improve compliance with environmental standards.
The meeting also examined ways to make Pollution Under Control (PUC) testing more reliable through tamper-proof systems. Automated identification of vehicles operating without valid PUC certificates and those exceeding prescribed age limits was among the technologies showcased by participating innovators.
City-wide and hyperlocal air-quality monitoring, pollution hotspot mapping, forecasting systems and AI-assisted identification of pollution sources were also discussed. Predictive traffic management technology could help authorities identify congestion hotspots and take measures to reduce vehicle emissions.
Yadav stressed the importance of connecting industrial emission data with plant-operation records to identify possible manipulation and strengthen enforcement. He also underlined the need for wider air-quality monitoring networks and cleaner vehicles, supported by better traffic management.
Road dust and dust generated by construction and demolition activities were among the other major areas discussed during the interaction.
Start-ups presented technologies for detecting and controlling dust at construction sites, monitoring the resuspension of road dust and improving the efficiency of mechanised road sweeping. Portable pothole-repair systems and modular dust-containment solutions were also considered as potential tools for reducing pollution from roads and construction activities.
The minister highlighted the need for faster road maintenance and more effective dust-control measures, noting that technological interventions must address pollution at its source rather than rely solely on general monitoring.
The proposed solutions are intended to complement existing measures, including the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), cleaner-fuel initiatives and the promotion of electric mobility.
Agricultural residue management and the productive use of waste also featured prominently in the discussions.
Technology companies showcased systems for monitoring stubble and open biomass burning around the clock, alongside solutions to collect, transport and utilise paddy straw for bioenergy, biomass fuel and composting. Crop-residue-based materials, biochar and environmentally friendly packaging were highlighted as potential alternatives to burning agricultural waste in the open.
Yadav called for coordinated efforts involving the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Commission for Air Quality Management and the Central Pollution Control Board to develop guidelines for storing paddy straw. An in-situ storage model was also discussed to improve residue management at the local level.
The meeting further explored ways to connect recycled construction and demolition waste products with demand from the construction industry, along with technology-enabled approaches to municipal solid waste management.
Addressing the participants, Yadav described engagement with start-ups as an effort to strengthen cooperation between policymakers and technology developers. He said such interactions could improve consistency in policy implementation and bring greater transparency to environmental governance.
The minister encouraged innovators to tailor their solutions to clearly identified field-level requirements and focus on technologies that are economically viable, practical and capable of wider deployment across Delhi-NCR.
The discussions highlighted the role of machine learning, Internet of Things-based monitoring, advanced sensors, remote sensing and drone-based mapping in improving pollution detection and enforcement. Officials and innovators also examined how different technologies could be integrated into a coordinated system rather than deployed as isolated interventions.
The initiative seeks to bring government agencies, technology companies and field-level implementers together to develop measurable responses to the region’s air pollution challenges. Its effectiveness will ultimately depend on the deployment of these solutions, their affordability and their ability to deliver verifiable improvements in air quality.
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