Unspent funds in pollution control scheme to carry over, no discontinuity in works: Environment ministry to Parliament panel
The ministry was responding to the panel's observations and criticism made in its March report over expenditure of less than 1 per cent of the Rs 858 crore allocated for the scheme, till January 21, 2025. The ministry had previously informed the committee that the funds could not be utilised, as approval for the scheme's continuation was still pending.
In response to the committee's observations that fund utilisation during 2024-25 was unsatisfactory, the ministry said, 'The utilisation of funds in FY 2024-25 declined mainly due to allocation of funds for the 'Control of Pollution' scheme in March 2025, by clubbing together of funds for FY 2024-25 and 2025-26. Cabinet approved an amount of Rs 1949.80 crore for FY 2024-25 and FY 2025-26 in March 2025, along with the direction that unutilised funds of FY 2024-25 will be carried over/ re-allocated to FY 2025-26.'
'The ministry will take all possible measures like advance planning, preparation and execution of proposals pertaining to 'control of pollution' scheme in a time-bound manner to utilise the budgetary allocation under the scheme,' the committee report noted.
The ministry explained that the control of pollution scheme involves providing gap funding support to 82 cities and also allows convergence with existing schemes and programmes. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) is one of the components of the control of pollution scheme, and other components include providing support to pollution control boards, and monitoring air, water and noise pollution in the country.
'NCAP cities were continuously implementing their city action plans through funds provided under NCAP as well as through convergence of funds from Central and State Govt. schemes and projects included in their respective city action plans. There was no discontinuity in implementation of the scheme at ground level,' the report stated, recording the ministry's response.
The ministry added that it has already sanctioned Rs 835.5 crore, out of which an amount of RS 209.64 crore has been released to states and union territories and 82 cities for implementing city action plans, as well as pollution control measures by North Eastern state pollution control boards.
Under NCAP, the target is to reduce particulate matter 10 (pollutants smaller than 10 micrometre or less) in 130 cities by 2026. While the 15th Finance Commission funds NCAP for 49 cities with over a million people, 82 cities are funded under the Control of Pollution scheme.
In FY 2024-25, the report noted, cities have spent RS 419.35 crore to implement city action plans. The key activities undertaken across 82 cities under NCAP included end-to-end paving of roads covering 60 km in length, dust control on roads covering 700 km in length, mechanical sweeping of roads covering 550 km per day, development of 26 acres of green spaces and waste collection systems with a capacity of 12 tonnes/day.
'Out of 82 cities, 62 cities have shown improvement in air quality in terms of reduction in annual PM10 concentrations in FY 2024-25 with respect to the levels of FY 2017-18. Out of 82 cities, 19 cities have met National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM10 (60 μg/m3) in FY 2024-25,' the report stated.
An award-winning journalist with 14 years of experience, Nikhil Ghanekar is an Assistant Editor with the National Bureau [Government] of The Indian Express in New Delhi. He primarily covers environmental policy matters which involve tracking key decisions and inner workings of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He also covers the functioning of the National Green Tribunal and writes on the impact of environmental policies on wildlife conservation, forestry issues and climate change.
Nikhil joined The Indian Express in 2024. Originally from Mumbai, he has worked in publications such as Tehelka, Hindustan Times, DNA Newspaper, News18 and Indiaspend. In the past 14 years, he has written on a range of subjects such as sports, current affairs, civic issues, city centric environment news, central government policies and politics. ... Read More
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'This means most of whom were in their teens or early 20s, the prime of youth, when they suffered disabilities during military training, leaving them with shattered lives,' said Ankur Chaturvedi (51), who was medically boarded out of NDA in 1996 due to a boxing injury in his sixth term. 'Enhancement of ex gratia will be the first move towards resolution of other important issues faced by these cadets, such as changing the nomenclature to disability pension and the grant of ex-serviceman (ESM) status,' said Chaturvedi, now a corporate professional who is helping these cadets fight for their rights. The tag of disability pension entitles these cadets to a better payout while ESM status gives them access to free treatment at military facilities and other empanelled hospitals through the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), as well as career resettlement options. 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In 1996, the then government created an absurd term called 'monthly ex gratia' instead of continuing with disability pension, which became the root cause of all problems,' he said. Chaturvedi said that since then, there have been efforts to ensure rightful dues for disabled cadets, including a disability pension and ESM status (see timeline). 'We had come very close to a resolution multiple times, particularly in 2015, when former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar agreed to correct this issue. Unfortunately, Government officials entrusted with implementing this move came up with technical objections,' he said, adding that there has been 'a positive shift in attitude' under current DESW Secretary Dr Nitin Chandra. According to Chaturvedi, Singh had also approved a separate proposal to extend resettlement facilities to cadets who are medically boarded out for disabilities suffered during military training. Such resettlement opportunities, which ex-servicemen are granted, would typically include various self-employment schemes, among other benefits. But, even that is yet to be implemented on ground, he said. 'Their sacrifices are immense. Righting this long-standing wrong will earn the Government the gratitude of every patriotic Indian,' Chaturvedi said. The Indian Express sent a detailed questionnaire on the plight of these cadets and the fate of the Government's latest proposal to the ministries of defence and finance, the Integrated Defence Staff HQ for NDA, and the Army for IMA. No comment was received. 29 yrs later, still waiting Despite multiple representations, recommendations and discussions since 1974, disability pension or ex-serviceman status remains elusive for cadets who were medically discharged after suffering disabilities during military training: 1996: Policy for monthly ex gratia not considered pension despite a provision for pension on ad hoc basis in the 5th Pay Commission (Para 164.23). 2006: ESM status granted, but only for soldiers. 2009: Proposal from Service HQ to link ex-gratia to officer's salary denied; ex-gratia linked to the minimum salary of a Central Govt employee. 2014: 7th Pay Commission denies demand for disability pension to these cadets, stating they were on training and not on duty. 2015-2022: Experts recommend a change of name of ex-gratia to disability pension and its linking to a stipend. Letter granting disability pension and ESM status to these cadets is drafted but not signed. Judge and Advocate General recommends amendments be made to pension rules.
