Govt’s Pollution Control Scheme Struggles With Fund Utilisation, Only 1% of Rs 858 Cr Spent
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change faces scrutiny over delayed approval for key pollution control initiative, leaving funds largely untapped
Less than 1 per cent of the Rs 858 crore allocated to the ‘control of pollution’ scheme under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) for the 2024-25 financial year has been utilised so far, according to a report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday. The shockingly low expenditure, amounting to just Rs 7.22 crore as of 21 January, has raised concerns among lawmakers, prompting a call for the ministry to introspect on the reasons behind the significant underutilisation.
The department-related standing committee on science and technology, environment, forests, and climate change expressed its dismay over the underperformance of the ministry, urging the government to address the issue at a time when air quality remains a critical concern. The report highlighted that the ministry’s failure to approve the continuation of the scheme has been a major roadblock in fund utilisation.
This scheme is integral to the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which aims to reduce particulate matter pollution across 131 cities in India by 2026. While the Centre fully funds the scheme, which supports pollution control efforts in 82 cities that fail to meet air quality standards, the committee’s report noted that even though the funds for the scheme were allocated, their release was delayed due to the pending approval for continuation until 2025-26.
The scheme was launched in 2018 to monitor air, water, and noise pollution, with various components that support state pollution control boards and environmental monitoring networks. Despite the critical need for such measures, especially as Delhi remains the world’s most polluted capital, the committee’s report emphasized the lack of action in utilizing the allocated funds.
The panel also raised concerns about India’s preparedness for addressing climate change, particularly in light of the US’s withdrawal from global climate commitments. The committee urged India to step up its climate action efforts, including the formulation of national-level heat action plans to mitigate heat waves.
Additionally, the report pointed to the inadequate spending by the ministry, noting that by the end of January, only 54 per cent of the revised allocation of Rs 3,125.96 crore had been utilised, with only 40 days remaining in the financial year.
In response to the concerns raised, the MoEFCC Secretary informed the committee that 69 per cent of the funds had been used, but the committee remained unsatisfied with the pace of expenditure, particularly regarding the National Coastal Mission, which has faced funding cuts in recent years.
