Delhi’s Clean Air Funds Remain Untapped as Pollution Soars

Delhi is grappling with severe air pollution, and a recent Right to Information (RTI) response reveals that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has left over ₹29 crore allocated for the National Clean Air Programme unspent over the past two years. As hazardous air quality continues to threaten public health, this revelation raises pressing concerns about the city’s commitment to improving air standards.

The RTI report, accessed by news agency PTI, indicates that at the beginning of the 2023–24 financial year, the MCD commenced with ₹26.6 crore in unutilized funds from prior allocations. This amount was supplemented by an additional ₹8.93 crore received under the National Clean Air Programme, bringing the total available funds to over ₹35.3 crore. Despite this significant allocation, only ₹5.19 crore was utilized by the end of March 2024, leaving ₹30.11 crore unspent.

By the start of the following financial year, the MCD began with this unspent amount, which accrued an interest of approximately ₹75 lakh. Consequently, total available funds reached ₹30.8 crore. However, by March 2025, spending remained alarmingly low, with only ₹1.34 crore utilized, leaving a staggering ₹29.5 crore still unspent.

The RTI records further highlight that several of Delhi’s commitments under the ‘Air Quality Challenge Method’—a framework designed to secure future funding—are incomplete. These include the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility framework outlined in the Plastic Waste Management Rules. Notably, the establishment of e-waste collection centers has not been announced on the official portal, despite existing requirements. Furthermore, automated testing stations and vehicle scrapping facilities remain non-operational.

As the situation escalates, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reported that Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 425 at 09:00 on Thursday, categorizing it as “severe.” In response to the deteriorating air quality, the CAQM has activated Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the Delhi-NCR region. This emergency protocol includes a nine-point action plan that restricts construction activities, limits the use of diesel vehicles, and imposes other measures aimed at curbing emissions.

The revelation of unspent funds comes at a critical time as residents of Delhi continue to face health risks associated with toxic air. With the MCD’s inaction on these allocated funds, questions arise about the effectiveness of governance and the urgency of addressing the air quality crisis in the capital.