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Real estate developers in Gurugram have asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to review its 16-day restriction on dust-generating construction and demolition work, seeking exemptions for project sites that comply with anti-pollution norms.
- Restriction Window: November 5 to November 20, 2026
- Order Authority: CAQM direction dated October 30, 2026 (enforced by Gurugram Deputy Commissioner via Order Endst. No. 5392/MB dated November 3, 2026)
- Industry Demand: Allow compliant residential and commercial sites with dust-control systems to operate
- Exempted Categories: Railways, metro, airports, hospitals, water supply, sanitation and national security projects
The district administration halted dust-producing outdoor construction and demolition across Gurugram from November 5 to November 20 following directions issued by the CAQM under Section 12 of the CAQM Act, 2021. Developers and industry associations have since flagged disruptions to project schedules, labour deployment and material supply chains.
Builders say projects that maintain anti-smog guns, green netting, covered material storage and registered remote dust-monitoring portals should not be treated the same as non-compliant sites. According to internal builder estimates reported in the press, financial losses across active sites since November 5 have already run into crores.
Construction cannot be viewed as the sole contributor to pollution.
Parveen Jain, President, National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO)
Jain noted that vehicular emissions, road dust and industrial activity also drive air quality deterioration, adding that repeated work stoppages affect daily-wage construction workers. Industry representatives have also asked authorities for clearer timelines on how long winter air quality curbs will remain in force across Delhi-NCR.
What Is Restricted and What Remains Exempt
Under the November 3 directive issued by Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh, dust-generating outdoor construction and demolition activities remain prohibited until November 20. Sub-Divisional Magistrates and officials of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) conduct daily inspections and submit action-taken reports by 5:00 PM each day.
| Project / Activity Category | Current Status |
|---|---|
| Private residential and commercial outdoor construction | Restricted (dust-generating work halted) |
| Demolition activities (indoor and outdoor) | Restricted across the district |
| Railways, metro, airports and ISBTs | Exempt |
| Hospitals, water supply and sanitation works | Exempt |
| National security and defence projects | Exempt |
Note: Linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers and pipelines are restricted under the Gurugram administration’s November 3 order.
Homebuyers awaiting possession of under-construction flats in Gurugram may see short-term execution slowdowns, though a 16-day curb does not automatically extend a project’s Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HRERA) completion deadline unless the promoter formally applies for and receives an extension. Residents planning home renovations must hold off on any wall-breaking or dust-generating demolition until November 20.
Violations of the construction and demolition ban attract penal action under the Commission for Air Quality Management Act, 2021. Sites sealed for breaching norms require a separate clearance order to resume work even after the restriction window ends.
Sources: Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) direction dated October 30, 2026; Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram order (Endst. No. 5392/MB) dated November 3, 2026; Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) enforcement notices.