News18: New Delhi: Friday, 3rd April 2026.
Rs 112.82 crore was allocated to Delhi, of which Rs 81.36 crore was released to the city. In the last five financial years, Delhi has spent just Rs 16.36 crore.
Even as Delhi grapples
with severe air pollution year after year, local bodies have spent just Rs 20
for every Rs 100 released under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to
combat the crisis, a series of RTI replies filed across departments show.
Information sought from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act showed that a total of Rs 112.82 crore was allocated to Delhi under the NCAP between 2021–22 and 2025–26, of which Rs 81.36 crore was released to the city. In the last five financial years, Delhi has spent just Rs 16.36 crore, leaving over Rs 65 crore unspent, data as of March 30 show.
NCAP To Battle Polluted
Air
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched NCAP in January 2019. The first time funds were allocated or released for Delhi was in 2021–22. That year, no utilisation was reported.
Funds under NCAP flow from the MoEFCC to CPCB to DPCC to urban local bodies. In Delhi, the local bodies receiving the funds are MCD and NDMC. News18 filed RTIs across all these agencies to understand where the funds were getting stuck.
“Performance-based financial support is being provided by MoEFCC to all 130 non-attainment cities, including Delhi, for implementation of City Action Plans. Under NCAP, the total amount of Rs 112.82 crore has been allocated and, based on performance assessment of the city w.r.t. improvement in air quality, Rs 81.36 crore has been released to ULBs of Delhi through the Delhi Pollution Control Committee from FY 2021–22 till February 16, 2026, out of which Rs 15.74 crore has been utilised," the reply from CPCB stated. Subsequent utilisation updated till March 30 stands at Rs 16.36 crore.
The CPCB reply also stated that Rs 20.45 crore out of Rs 112.82 crore was marked for the year 2025–26 and is yet to be released as of February 16. In 2025–26, Delhi spent Rs 1.64 crore up to February, which improved to Rs 2.26 crore by March 30.
Most Funds With MCD, Limited Spending On Ground
The RTI reply from CPCB further shows that the MCD, then as North DMC, received a recurring grant worth Rs 4.49 crore under NCAP for the first time in March 2022 (FY 2021–22). In the same month, the South DMC received Rs 6.74 crore, taking total funds for Delhi to about Rs 11.25 crore in 2021–22.
Soon after, in May 2022, three civic bodies in Delhi—East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), North DMC and South DMC—were unified into a single entity called the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
In 2022–23, the MCD received Rs 22.50 crore for NCAP in September. In its utilisation certificate to CPCB, the MCD stated that Rs 11.24 crore, including interest worth Rs 40.77 lakh, was carried forward from 2021–22. During the year, the MCD spent Rs 7.54 crore, leaving Rs 26.19 crore as balance.
At the end of 2023–24, the balance amount with MCD touched Rs 30.34 crore, with only Rs 5.19 crore spent during that financial year. A total of Rs 8.93 crore was allocated to the body that year.
The reply from CPCB further shows that no funds were given to MCD in 2024–25. The agency used Rs 1.34 crore that year, leaving Rs 28.77 crore as balance with MCD. Rs 38.67 crore was allocated that year and was released only in 2025–26.
Despite Warnings, Utilisation Remains Low
In August 2024, CPCB wrote to DPCC stating that Delhi’s utilisation was below the mandated 75 per cent threshold in terms of funds released till 2022–23. In the letter, CPCB requested DPCC to intervene “for effective utilisation of the funds released".
News18 also filed an RTI with DPCC seeking details of the funds. DPCC stated that it transferred the funds to NDMC and MCD on time. Sharing the break-up, DPCC said it transferred the allocated Rs 22.50 crore to MCD in 2022–23, matching the RTI reply from CPCB. In 2023–24, DPCC allocated and transferred Rs 8.937 crore to NDMC. Rs 38.67 crore for the financial year 2024–25 was transferred to MCD in 2025–26, DPCC stated.
“No NCAP fund was allocated to DPCC for FY 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22 and 2025–26," the RTI reply from DPCC stated.
NDMC, in its RTI reply on fund utilisation, stated that the amount is being used by different departments and divisions, including civil and horticulture. However, it did not provide the exact break-up. It also stated that it received Rs 8.93 crore in 2023–24 in four tranches between October 2023 and January 2024.
DPCC and NDMC only provided details of limited queries. The reply from MCD is awaited even after two months of seeking details.
Delhi Among Worst Performers In NCAP Spending
The RTI reply from MoEFCC stated that the Ministry conducted a Monitoring Committee Meeting in August 2025 where the “low utilisation for Delhi has been noted". In the same office order, the Ministry also communicated that cities must achieve at least 75 per cent utilisation to qualify for further funds starting from 2025–26.
The Ministry also stated that 65 cities have reported expenditure between 50–75 per cent, 13 cities between 25–50 per cent, and two cities below 25 per cent on the PRANA portal. The two cities with less than 25 per cent expenditure were Delhi and Noida.
Delhi had informed the NCAP Monitoring Committee that tendering for works worth Rs 20 crore had been completed and work orders would be issued by September 30, 2025. A plan for Rs 40 crore has also been submitted for approval.
The funds spent in Delhi, considered one of the most polluted cities in India, should also be seen in light of the fact that the Centre has released Rs 13,236.80 crore to 130 cities since 2020–21, of which Rs 9,769.83 crore has been utilised, reflecting an overall utilisation rate of 74 per cent.
So, for every Rs 100 released by the Centre, cities have collectively spent about Rs 75. But when it comes to Delhi, for every Rs 100 received, local bodies have spent just Rs 20—despite the fact that, almost every year for nearly a decade, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has plunged into poor, very poor and hazardous levels, touching 500 at times.
As per CPCB data, the average PM10 level in Delhi in 2024–25 was 213, and in 2023–24 it was 208—more than three times the standard level of 60. In 2020–21, the average PM10 was 193, and since then it has been rising: 196 in 2021–22 and 209 in 2022–23.
Unused Rs 65 crore Still In System
The Central Ministry also stated in its RTI reply that out of 130 NCAP cities, 35 had submitted Annual Action Plans for 2025–26 as of August 2025. Of these, only four plans were approved, 20 were referred back to cities for revision, and 11 are under review by CPCB. The remaining 95 cities had not submitted their plans, including Delhi.
“CPCB informed that a significant number of Annual Action Plans were returned to cities due to gaps in convergence details, inconsistencies in target setting, and inclusion of activities beyond the core NCAP framework," it stated.
However, the RTI reply from the Ministry also revealed that while NCAP spending across India may be at 75 per cent, at the national level, spending under pollution control schemes has shown gaps. In 2024–25, against a revised estimate of Rs 858 crore, only Rs 16.2 crore was spent on pollution control schemes, according to Ministry data.
In 2025–26, Rs 1,300 crore was the revised allocation for pollution control, but actual expenditure stood at Rs 840 crore, data till February show.
The Ministry also explained that money remains in the system even if unused, indicating that unspent allocations continue to be carried forward. “There is no surrender of funds as on date under control of the pollution scheme," it said.
This means over Rs 65 crore meant to fight pollution remains unspent with local bodies in Delhi, despite repeated warnings and persistently hazardous air quality levels. In a city where pollution levels routinely breach safe limits, the issue is no longer the availability of funds, but the inability to use them.
Rs 112.82 crore was allocated to Delhi, of which Rs 81.36 crore was released to the city. In the last five financial years, Delhi has spent just Rs 16.36 crore.
Information sought from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act showed that a total of Rs 112.82 crore was allocated to Delhi under the NCAP between 2021–22 and 2025–26, of which Rs 81.36 crore was released to the city. In the last five financial years, Delhi has spent just Rs 16.36 crore, leaving over Rs 65 crore unspent, data as of March 30 show.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) launched NCAP in January 2019. The first time funds were allocated or released for Delhi was in 2021–22. That year, no utilisation was reported.
Funds under NCAP flow from the MoEFCC to CPCB to DPCC to urban local bodies. In Delhi, the local bodies receiving the funds are MCD and NDMC. News18 filed RTIs across all these agencies to understand where the funds were getting stuck.
“Performance-based financial support is being provided by MoEFCC to all 130 non-attainment cities, including Delhi, for implementation of City Action Plans. Under NCAP, the total amount of Rs 112.82 crore has been allocated and, based on performance assessment of the city w.r.t. improvement in air quality, Rs 81.36 crore has been released to ULBs of Delhi through the Delhi Pollution Control Committee from FY 2021–22 till February 16, 2026, out of which Rs 15.74 crore has been utilised," the reply from CPCB stated. Subsequent utilisation updated till March 30 stands at Rs 16.36 crore.
The CPCB reply also stated that Rs 20.45 crore out of Rs 112.82 crore was marked for the year 2025–26 and is yet to be released as of February 16. In 2025–26, Delhi spent Rs 1.64 crore up to February, which improved to Rs 2.26 crore by March 30.
Most Funds With MCD, Limited Spending On Ground
The RTI reply from CPCB further shows that the MCD, then as North DMC, received a recurring grant worth Rs 4.49 crore under NCAP for the first time in March 2022 (FY 2021–22). In the same month, the South DMC received Rs 6.74 crore, taking total funds for Delhi to about Rs 11.25 crore in 2021–22.
Soon after, in May 2022, three civic bodies in Delhi—East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), North DMC and South DMC—were unified into a single entity called the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
In 2022–23, the MCD received Rs 22.50 crore for NCAP in September. In its utilisation certificate to CPCB, the MCD stated that Rs 11.24 crore, including interest worth Rs 40.77 lakh, was carried forward from 2021–22. During the year, the MCD spent Rs 7.54 crore, leaving Rs 26.19 crore as balance.
At the end of 2023–24, the balance amount with MCD touched Rs 30.34 crore, with only Rs 5.19 crore spent during that financial year. A total of Rs 8.93 crore was allocated to the body that year.
The reply from CPCB further shows that no funds were given to MCD in 2024–25. The agency used Rs 1.34 crore that year, leaving Rs 28.77 crore as balance with MCD. Rs 38.67 crore was allocated that year and was released only in 2025–26.
Despite Warnings, Utilisation Remains Low
In August 2024, CPCB wrote to DPCC stating that Delhi’s utilisation was below the mandated 75 per cent threshold in terms of funds released till 2022–23. In the letter, CPCB requested DPCC to intervene “for effective utilisation of the funds released".
News18 also filed an RTI with DPCC seeking details of the funds. DPCC stated that it transferred the funds to NDMC and MCD on time. Sharing the break-up, DPCC said it transferred the allocated Rs 22.50 crore to MCD in 2022–23, matching the RTI reply from CPCB. In 2023–24, DPCC allocated and transferred Rs 8.937 crore to NDMC. Rs 38.67 crore for the financial year 2024–25 was transferred to MCD in 2025–26, DPCC stated.
“No NCAP fund was allocated to DPCC for FY 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22 and 2025–26," the RTI reply from DPCC stated.
NDMC, in its RTI reply on fund utilisation, stated that the amount is being used by different departments and divisions, including civil and horticulture. However, it did not provide the exact break-up. It also stated that it received Rs 8.93 crore in 2023–24 in four tranches between October 2023 and January 2024.
DPCC and NDMC only provided details of limited queries. The reply from MCD is awaited even after two months of seeking details.
Delhi Among Worst Performers In NCAP Spending
The RTI reply from MoEFCC stated that the Ministry conducted a Monitoring Committee Meeting in August 2025 where the “low utilisation for Delhi has been noted". In the same office order, the Ministry also communicated that cities must achieve at least 75 per cent utilisation to qualify for further funds starting from 2025–26.
The Ministry also stated that 65 cities have reported expenditure between 50–75 per cent, 13 cities between 25–50 per cent, and two cities below 25 per cent on the PRANA portal. The two cities with less than 25 per cent expenditure were Delhi and Noida.
Delhi had informed the NCAP Monitoring Committee that tendering for works worth Rs 20 crore had been completed and work orders would be issued by September 30, 2025. A plan for Rs 40 crore has also been submitted for approval.
The funds spent in Delhi, considered one of the most polluted cities in India, should also be seen in light of the fact that the Centre has released Rs 13,236.80 crore to 130 cities since 2020–21, of which Rs 9,769.83 crore has been utilised, reflecting an overall utilisation rate of 74 per cent.
So, for every Rs 100 released by the Centre, cities have collectively spent about Rs 75. But when it comes to Delhi, for every Rs 100 received, local bodies have spent just Rs 20—despite the fact that, almost every year for nearly a decade, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has plunged into poor, very poor and hazardous levels, touching 500 at times.
As per CPCB data, the average PM10 level in Delhi in 2024–25 was 213, and in 2023–24 it was 208—more than three times the standard level of 60. In 2020–21, the average PM10 was 193, and since then it has been rising: 196 in 2021–22 and 209 in 2022–23.
Unused Rs 65 crore Still In System
The Central Ministry also stated in its RTI reply that out of 130 NCAP cities, 35 had submitted Annual Action Plans for 2025–26 as of August 2025. Of these, only four plans were approved, 20 were referred back to cities for revision, and 11 are under review by CPCB. The remaining 95 cities had not submitted their plans, including Delhi.
“CPCB informed that a significant number of Annual Action Plans were returned to cities due to gaps in convergence details, inconsistencies in target setting, and inclusion of activities beyond the core NCAP framework," it stated.
However, the RTI reply from the Ministry also revealed that while NCAP spending across India may be at 75 per cent, at the national level, spending under pollution control schemes has shown gaps. In 2024–25, against a revised estimate of Rs 858 crore, only Rs 16.2 crore was spent on pollution control schemes, according to Ministry data.
In 2025–26, Rs 1,300 crore was the revised allocation for pollution control, but actual expenditure stood at Rs 840 crore, data till February show.
The Ministry also explained that money remains in the system even if unused, indicating that unspent allocations continue to be carried forward. “There is no surrender of funds as on date under control of the pollution scheme," it said.
This means over Rs 65 crore meant to fight pollution remains unspent with local bodies in Delhi, despite repeated warnings and persistently hazardous air quality levels. In a city where pollution levels routinely breach safe limits, the issue is no longer the availability of funds, but the inability to use them.