Proposals that could lead to a reduction in air pollution and generate revenue for environment-friendly initiatives will be included in the Delhi government’s first green budget being planned as a part of Budget 2018-19.
Action plans
In a note last week to the heads of departments concerned, including Environment, Power, Industries, Transport and Public Works Department, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia asked for department-wise action plans to be included in the budget.
Terming air pollution as one of the “topmost concerns affecting quality of life in Delhi”, Mr. Sisodia told the departments to come up with interventions that could be carried out in the next two years to reduce pollution in the city. He instructed the departments to consult various studies done on the subject, including the 2016 comprehensive study on air pollution conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur.
After intra-department meetings from February 2 to 14 to discuss the proposals, Mr. Sisodia said a budget meeting would be held on February 15 to shortlist proposals for the green budget. The Ministers and heads of department will present proposals, complete with aims, timeframe for implementation, proposed expenditure, potential impact on pollution and additional revenue generation schemes. The proposals will be finalised on February 16-17, Mr. Sisodia wrote.
With a large proportion of Delhi’s particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution coming from road dust and vehicles – 38% and 20% respectively – according to the IIT Kanpur study, efforts to curb these emissions at source will be vital to bring down overall PM levels.
In his note, Mr. Sisodia, who is also the Finance Minister, wrote: “Scientific studies on the effects of air pollution on children in Delhi conclude with certainty that for many their health will be compromised for the rest of their lives”.
Citing a three-year study published in 2010 by the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in conjunction with the World Health Organization, he said that about half of the 4.4 million children in Delhi suffered from irreversible lung damage.
