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Business Standard
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Over ₹238 cr released for NCR under EPC funds for clean-air plans: RTI
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has released more than Rs 238 crore to nine urban local bodies (ULBs) in the NCR as part of its efforts to support city-level air pollution control under the Environment Protection Charge (EPC) funds, an RTI reply has revealed. The funds were disbursed to ULBs in Gurugram, Jind, Narnaul, Nuh, Palwal, Greater Noida, Hapur, Bharatpur and Bhiwadi through the respective state pollution control boards (SPCBs), according to the reply provided by the CPCB's air quality management division to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act on June 17. Additionally, the release of Rs 18.56 crore for seven other cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) -- Bahadurgarh, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Daruhera, Karnal, Panipat and Sonipat -- is currently under process through the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), the reply said. The funds are meant to serve as gap-funding support for implementing the city action plans for air-quality improvement. According to the CPCB's guidelines, three-fourths of the annual EPC funds are earmarked for such initiatives across 19 NCR cities. In response to a query regarding projects under the EPC funds, the CPCB said it releases money to urban bodies as and when work orders are received for activities, such as the procurement of mechanical road-sweeping machines (MRSMs), anti-smog guns (ASGs) and pavement and road-improvement work. The RTI query was filed by Dehradun-based activist Amit Gupta, who said a significant amount remains unused under the EPC and EC funds. "It is high time that the CPCB starts using these funds effectively for pollution control," he said. He also pointed out that the peak pollution season is just three months away and emphasised that the EPC and EC funds could be effectively utilised to control pollution in Delhi-NCR and nearby areas. "I hope that the CPCB will ensure more transparency in the use of these funds," Gupta added. The reply also highlighted a major push to curb stubble burning by incentivising cleaner alternatives. Apart from infrastructure and mitigation efforts, the CPCB said it is also considering proposals for scientific studies related to air-quality assessment, pollution modelling, mitigation technologies and the health impacts of air pollution under the EPC funding.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
CPCB spent less than 1 pc of Rs 45 crore environmental fines collected since 2018: RTI reply, ET LegalWorld
Advt Advt Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox. All about ETLegalWorld industry right on your smartphone! Download the ETLegalWorld App and get the Realtime updates and Save your favourite articles. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has spent just 0.2 per cent of the environmental compensation it collected from 2018 to 2024 on protecting the environment, according to official data accessed through a Right to Information (RTI) CPCB collected Rs 45.81 crore in fines and penalties under environmental compensation (EC) during this period but spent only Rs 9 lakh, less than one-fiftieth of the total amount, the RTI query filed by social activist Amit Gupta is no record of EC spending in most years. The only exception is 2024-25, when Rs 9 lakh was finally CPCB receives 25 per cent of the EC collected by state pollution control boards and also levies fines directly on polluters in various funds are meant to be used for environmental protection, including strengthening of labs, monitoring networks, compliance studies, capacity building and costs incurred by the National Green Tribunal (NGT)-appointed a large portion of the money has remained data also shows that the CPCB spent only Rs 130.9 crore, about 30 per cent of the Rs 427.37 crore collected under the Environment Protection Charge (EPC) during the same period. These funds are meant to tackle air pollution in EPC is collected at the rate of one per cent of the ex-showroom price of diesel vehicles with engine capacity of 2,000 cc and above, registered in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), as per a Supreme Court funds are supposed to support air quality improvement efforts, including R&D, control of vehicular pollution, health impact studies and pollution mitigation projects in Delhi-NCR and parts of data revealed a consistent trend of CPCB collected Rs 29.28 crore in 2016-17 but spent only Rs 0.01 crore. In 2023-24, Rs 65.28 crore was collected, while spending stood at just Rs 22.38 2024-25, it collected Rs 74.39 crore but spent only Rs 31.98 in March, a parliamentary panel flagged that only Rs 7.22 crore (less than one per cent) of the Rs 858 crore allocated to the Environment Ministry for its 'Control of Pollution' scheme in 2024-25 had been spent by January department-related standing committee on science and technology, environment, forests and climate change expressed "shock" and urged the ministry to "introspect" and take serious note of the reasons behind the gross underutilisation.>
Mint
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
CPCB spent less than 1 pc of ₹45 crore environmental fines collected since 2018: RTI reply
New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has spent just 0.2 per cent of the environmental compensation it collected from 2018 to 2024 on protecting the environment, according to official data accessed through a Right to Information (RTI) application. The CPCB collected ₹ 45.81 crore in fines and penalties under environmental compensation (EC) during this period but spent only ₹ 9 lakh, less than one-fiftieth of the total amount, the RTI query filed by social activist Amit Gupta revealed. There is no record of EC spending in most years. The only exception is 2024-25, when ₹ 9 lakh was finally utilised. The CPCB receives 25 per cent of the EC collected by state pollution control boards and also levies fines directly on polluters in various cases. These funds are meant to be used for environmental protection, including strengthening of labs, monitoring networks, compliance studies, capacity building and costs incurred by the National Green Tribunal (NGT)-appointed committees. However, a large portion of the money has remained unspent. The data also shows that the CPCB spent only ₹ 130.9 crore, about 30 per cent of the ₹ 427.37 crore collected under the Environment Protection Charge (EPC) during the same period. These funds are meant to tackle air pollution in Delhi-NCR. The EPC is collected at the rate of one per cent of the ex-showroom price of diesel vehicles with engine capacity of 2,000 cc and above, registered in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), as per a Supreme Court order. The funds are supposed to support air quality improvement efforts, including R&D, control of vehicular pollution, health impact studies and pollution mitigation projects in Delhi-NCR and parts of Punjab. The data revealed a consistent trend of underutilisation. The CPCB collected ₹ 29.28 crore in 2016-17 but spent only ₹ 0.01 crore. In 2023-24, ₹ 65.28 crore was collected, while spending stood at just ₹ 22.38 crore. In 2024-25, it collected ₹ 74.39 crore but spent only ₹ 31.98 crore. Earlier in March, a parliamentary panel flagged that only ₹ 7.22 crore (less than one per cent) of the ₹ 858 crore allocated to the Environment Ministry for its 'Control of Pollution' scheme in 2024-25 had been spent by January 21. The department-related standing committee on science and technology, environment, forests and climate change expressed "shock" and urged the ministry to "introspect" and take serious note of the reasons behind the gross underutilisation.
Mint
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
CPCB spent less than 1 pc of ₹45 crore environmental fines collected since 2018: RTI reply
New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has spent just 0.2 per cent of the environmental compensation it collected from 2018 to 2024 on protecting the environment, according to official data accessed through a Right to Information (RTI) application. The CPCB collected ₹ 45.81 crore in fines and penalties under environmental compensation (EC) during this period but spent only ₹ 9 lakh, less than one-fiftieth of the total amount, the RTI query filed by social activist Amit Gupta revealed. There is no record of EC spending in most years. The only exception is 2024-25, when ₹ 9 lakh was finally utilised. The CPCB receives 25 per cent of the EC collected by state pollution control boards and also levies fines directly on polluters in various cases. These funds are meant to be used for environmental protection, including strengthening of labs, monitoring networks, compliance studies, capacity building and costs incurred by the National Green Tribunal (NGT)-appointed committees. However, a large portion of the money has remained unspent. The data also shows that the CPCB spent only ₹ 130.9 crore, about 30 per cent of the ₹ 427.37 crore collected under the Environment Protection Charge (EPC) during the same period. These funds are meant to tackle air pollution in Delhi-NCR. The EPC is collected at the rate of one per cent of the ex-showroom price of diesel vehicles with engine capacity of 2,000 cc and above, registered in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), as per a Supreme Court order. The funds are supposed to support air quality improvement efforts, including R&D, control of vehicular pollution, health impact studies and pollution mitigation projects in Delhi-NCR and parts of Punjab. The data revealed a consistent trend of underutilisation. The CPCB collected ₹ 29.28 crore in 2016-17 but spent only ₹ 0.01 crore. In 2023-24, ₹ 65.28 crore was collected, while spending stood at just ₹ 22.38 crore. In 2024-25, it collected ₹ 74.39 crore but spent only ₹ 31.98 crore. Earlier in March, a parliamentary panel flagged that only ₹ 7.22 crore (less than one per cent) of the ₹ 858 crore allocated to the Environment Ministry for its 'Control of Pollution' scheme in 2024-25 had been spent by January 21.
