Delhi Construction Dust-Control Norms 2026 — The Complete 40-Point Inspection Checklist
The 40-point dust-control checklist DPCC inspectors actually use in 2026 — boundary, suppression, monitoring, material handling and reporting. Print it, tick every item before your next audit.
Every DPCC and CAQM inspection in 2026 follows roughly the same 40-point checklist, broken across five categories: boundary control, dust suppression, continuous monitoring, material handling, and reporting. We see it filled out at almost every site visit our clients host, and the gaps are consistent across builders.
Print this checklist, walk the site with it before your next audit, and you will dramatically cut the chance of a show-cause notice. It is also the same template we use during our free pre-inspection audits.
Category 1 — Boundary and barricading
Visible, continuous boundary protection is the inspector's first impression — and the first failure point we see.
- Tin-sheet barrier minimum 3.6 m height on every boundary
- No gaps between sheets — overlaps welded or bolted
- Green nets (75–150 GSM) on all scaffolding faces
- Green nets on top of barricades wherever excavation is exposed
- Site gate signage with DPCC registration number, project owner and emergency contact
- All entry / exit points painted with road markings
- Boundary inspected and damaged sections replaced weekly
Category 2 — Dust suppression
This is where the bulk of inspection penalties get levied because the equipment is often present but not operating.
- Anti-smog gun sized to plot area per DPCC SOP
- Anti-smog gun operational during all dust-generating activities
- Perimeter sprinkler system covering at least 70% of boundary
- Sprinklers tested and working every morning before excavation
- Wheel-washing pit at every vehicle exit, minimum 1m deep
- Wheel-washing water recycled through settling tanks, not drained to road
- Water sprinkling on excavated soil during and after digging
- Mechanical road sweeper deployed on internal site roads
Category 3 — Continuous monitoring
Post Direction 85, this category alone can fail a site even if everything else is perfect.
- Continuous AQI sensor measuring PM2.5 and PM10
- Sensor on a CPCB-listed OEM with valid calibration certificate
- Live data visible on the DPCC central server within last 30 minutes
- PTZ CCTV cameras covering full boundary plus main gate
- Camera feed streaming live to DPCC portal, verified by zonal officer
- 30-day on-site NVR backup of all camera feeds
- Live AQI display board at the site gate, minimum 32-inch LED
Category 4 — Material handling and storage
Often overlooked, but covered in CAQM's standard inspection checklist.
- Sand and aggregates stored under tarpaulin or in covered bays
- Cement bags stored on raised platforms inside enclosed sheds
- Demolition debris stored in segregated bays — concrete, brick, steel, plastic, wood
- Trucks carrying soil or aggregates fully tarpaulined before exit
- C&D waste collected only by DPCC-authorised vendors with manifests retained
- Loose material not stored within 1 m of the boundary
Category 5 — Reporting and documentation
Paperwork gaps account for roughly a quarter of all notices we see.
- Monthly dust-control audit report uploaded to DPCC portal on time
- CTE / CTO printout displayed at the site office
- Empanelled environmental engineer's contact at the gate
- C&D waste manifest register updated weekly
- Worker attendance and PPE register maintained daily
- Equipment calibration certificates filed and accessible
GRAP — what changes during smog season
Between October and February the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) layers additional restrictions on top of the standard checklist. Under GRAP Stage III construction non-essential work may be halted; under Stage IV all non-public-utility construction is banned in Delhi NCR. Sites that have already built robust dust control routinely get conditional exemptions; sites that ignore the basics get full closure.
How to use this checklist
We recommend three rhythms. Weekly — site engineer walks the full checklist and logs photos. Monthly — environmental engineer audits, drafts the DPCC monthly report and closes any gaps. Quarterly — third-party audit by an external consultant to catch blind spots the internal team has stopped noticing.
The five most-missed items
- PTZ camera feed not actually visible on the DPCC portal (camera works, integration doesn't)
- Anti-smog gun parked but not running during excavation
- Sensor calibration certificate expired
- Trucks leaving site without tarpaulin during the lunch rush
- C&D waste manifests missing — vendor pickup happening but paperwork never filed
Fix these five permanently and you will cut your notice risk by roughly 80%.
Frequently asked questions
What height of barricading is mandatory?
Minimum 3.6 metres of solid tin-sheet barricading on every boundary, with no gaps. Lower barricades are an automatic non-compliance.
How often must dust-control audits be filed?
Once every calendar month, signed by an empanelled environmental engineer and uploaded to the DPCC portal before the 7th of the following month.
Does the checklist change during GRAP?
The base checklist remains, but GRAP Stages III and IV layer construction restrictions — non-essential work may be halted. Sites with strong dust control routinely receive conditional exemptions.
Are mechanical road sweepers actually required?
Yes for sites above 2,000 sqm or any site located on an arterial road. For smaller sites manual sweeping plus water sprinkling is acceptable.
Need help with this on your site?
Talk to our compliance team for a free site visit anywhere in Delhi NCR.