Only 43% of ₹300 crore Delhi pollution budget utilised so far, RTI reply

About 43 per cent of the Rs 300 crore allocated under Pollution Control and Emergency Measures in the Delhi Budget 2025-26 has been utilised till January 20, 2026 , according to an RTI reply. The environment department stated that Rs 129.83 crore was spent during the period, largely on short-term air pollution mitigation measures.

A significant portion of the expenditure went towards installing mist spray systems on electric poles and road central verges , costing Rs 23.37 crore . The department also spent nearly Rs 105 crore combined on hiring truck-mounted anti-smog guns including Rs 58.83 crore for one batch and Rs 47.12 crore for another hired during 2024-25.

However, out of the total allocation of Rs 473.02 crore across various schemes , only Rs 152.59 crore had been utilised till the reporting date. Several major heads showed zero expenditure , raising questions about implementation progress. These included Rs 70 crore allocated to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee for remediation of environmental damage from illegal groundwater extraction and Rs 64.40 crore for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to deploy mechanical road sweepers, water sprinklers, and anti-smog guns.

Other allocations that remained unspent included Rs 1.75 crore for real-time pollution source apportionment studies, Rs 1 crore for the e-waste eco-park project, and technical setup funds of Rs 1 lakh each for multiple initiatives such as sewage treatment plants and smog towers.

Scheme-wise utilisation showed mixed performance. The Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Climate Change and Communication spent Rs 5.91 crore out of Rs 9.34 crore. A cloud seeding pilot project with IIT Kanpur recorded expenditure of Rs 38 lakh from an allocation of Rs 3.80 crore. Parks and garden societies utilised Rs 14.18 crore, while eco-clubs spent Rs 80 lakh.

The department said it coordinates with multiple agencies and holds regular senior-level review meetings through a dedicated implementation committee to monitor air pollution control actions. While spending has progressed on short-term measures, several long-term projects remain underutilised.