NEW DELHI: With predictable policy frameworks, strict enforcement against non-compliant administrators and regional coordination, establishing a comprehensive, city-wide low-emission zone (LEZ) for Delhi is a realistic near-term goal, a senior CAQM official said on Tuesday.Tarun Kumar Pithode, member secretary of CAQM, also noted that clean air zones serve as an essential social experiment, as they signal a necessary shift in human behaviour by demonstrating that people can walk, navigate, and thrive without relying on personal motorised vehicles.

“Within the CAQM, regulatory frameworks are already firmly in place. We have issued multiple formal notices to administrators and secretaries, summoning officers to explain why they should not face prosecution for failing on environmental mandates, and we have seen immediate action as a result,” Pithode said at the ongoing Urban Adda 2026 in New Delhi.The three-day event, which opened on Monday, has brought together senior government officials, global urban experts, corporate leaders, and youth icons to formulate an action-oriented blueprint for India’s rapidly evolving urban landscape.Pithode also said government action alone was not enough, and public accountability was critical.“If lakhs of citizens demand answers and hold officers accountable, administrators will be forced to deliver results,” he said.