Delhi Sits on Unused ₹1,154 Crore Pollution Fund
Nearly 60% of Delhi's environmental compensation charge, meant for anti-pollution projects, remains unspent as winter approaches, an RTI reply reveals.
Nearly 60% of the environmental compensation charge collected by the Delhi government is lying unused. According to a Right to Information (RTI) reply, ₹1,153.93 crore out of a total ₹1,935.44 crore received remains unspent as the capital heads into its high-pollution winter season.
The Supreme Court has previously taken note of these unutilized funds. It directed the Delhi government to submit a plan for using the remaining money on long-term measures and interim recommendations from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The court stressed the need to fully use the funds for court-directed pollution control measures.
Where the Money Went
The RTI response shows that most spent money went to major transport infrastructure projects. The largest single allocation was ₹500 crore sanctioned to the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) in May 2023 for the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor. Another ₹265 crore was released to NCRTC for the same project in March 2019.
Other listed expenditures were significantly smaller. They included ₹15 lakh for non-motorised vehicle lane maintenance on SPM Marg, ₹43 lakh for deploying civil defence volunteers as traffic marshals, and ₹93 lakh for pre-tendering costs related to RFID systems. The response also recorded releases of ₹6 crore and ₹9 crore to Indian Oil Corporation for the HCNG project.
The ECC Levy and Recent Changes
The environmental compensation charge is a levy on specified commercial vehicles entering Delhi. In March, the Supreme Court approved CAQM's recommendations to revise the charge. The Delhi government subsequently notified increased rates.
| Vehicle Type | Old Charge | New Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Light-duty vehicles & two-axle trucks | ₹1,400 | ₹2,000 |
| Three-axle and heavier trucks | ₹2,600 | ₹4,000 |
Criticism and Winter Preparations
RTI activist Amit Gupta, who filed the application, criticized the spending. "Despite court orders and experts suggesting serious measures need to be taken, the funds are not being adequately used for big projects that can have a direct impact on reducing pollution," he said.
The figures emerge as Delhi prepares for another winter where air quality typically plummets. CAQM's expert assessment identifies PM2.5 as the dominant pollutant. Secondary particulates formed from transport, industry, power plant, and biomass burning emissions are major contributors during winter.
In response, the Delhi government has deployed 334 teams for round-the-clock pollution checks. It is also increasing enforcement at identified pollution hotspots.
