Untapped Millions: Pollution Control Funds Left Idle

A parliamentary panel's report reveals that Rs 858 crore allocated for pollution control remains unused due to lack of scheme continuation approval from the Union Environment Ministry. The unutilized funds hinder efforts to combat significant air pollution in Indian cities and improve environmental conditions.

A parliamentary panel has revealed that the Rs 858 crore allocated for pollution control in the 2024-25 budget remains unused. This, they claim, is because the Union Environment Ministry has yet to approve the continuation of the relevant scheme.

In the report presented in the Rajya Sabha, the panel expressed concern over the considerable air pollution impacting multiple Indian cities, including Delhi. They highlighted that the unutilized funds make up 27.44% of the ministry's revised annual allocation, awaiting approval for scheme continuation till 2025-26.

The funds are intended to support pollution control boards and the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which aims to cut particulate pollution in 131 polluted cities by 40% by 2026. The report emphasized the dire pollution scenario, urging the ministry to address the underutilization reasons seriously and improve plantation activity audits to optimize fund use.

(With inputs from agencies.)