RTI reveals Delhi Civic Body leaves Rs 29 crore clean air funds unused amid severe pollution

New Delhi: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has not spent more than ₹28.77 crore under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in the last two years. This information was revealed in response to an RTI application filed by Noida environmentalist Amit Gupta. MCD Funding Figures At the beginning of the 2023-24 financial year, the MCD already had ₹26.6 crore allocated. That year, Delhi received an additional ₹8.93 crore under NCAP, bringing the total amount to ₹35.3 crore. However, only ₹5.19 crore was used, leaving ₹30.11 crore remaining. Delhi AQI: Hundreds gather, dozens held as India Gate sees protest against air pollution Large Amount Leftover Next Year In the 2024-25 financial year, interest of approximately ₹75 lakh was added to the already unspent funds, bringing the total amount to ₹30.8 crore. However, by March 2025, only ₹1.34 crore had been spent, leaving ₹29.5 crore wasted. Expected NCAP Activities Under the NCAP, Delhi was to undertake several key initiatives, such as mechanical sweeping for road dust control, water sprinkler systems, air quality monitoring stations, green buffers, and waste management improvements. The RTI report stated that its implementation on the ground had been "not very effective." Delays in Data Uploading There were also delays in uploading city-level data to the PRANA portal, which tracks progress. Several commitments, such as the notification of e-waste collection centers and the registration of Extended Producer Responsibility (ER) under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, remain unfulfilled. Delhi AQI nears ‘severe’ category; Highest pollution level of season, no GRAP restrictions yet? Vehicular Pollution Control Measures Incomplete Automated vehicle testing stations and vehicle scrapping facilities have also not yet been implemented. These measures were necessary to control the growing vehicle count and pollution problem in the city. Delhi's Growing Air Problem Delhi's air quality has deteriorated significantly in recent days. On Tuesday, the city's AQI crossed 400, entering the "severe" category. Despite some improvement, the air quality remained in the "very poor" category on Friday. RTI revealed that the funds allocated for the Delhi Municipal Corporation's Clean Air Plan have been severely underutilized. This has not only undermined current pollution control but also exacerbated future challenges to improving air quality.