The fund was meant to improve transport infrastructure and cut down on pollution in the city. However, the government has till date spent only 0.11% (Rs 93 lakh) of the total amount.
While Delhi choked on toxic smog in the past two winters, the AAP government sat on a fund of Rs 787 crore generated as environment compensation charge (ECC) since it came to power in 2015, an RTI query has revealed. The fund was meant to improve transport infrastructure and cut down on pollution in the city. However, the government has till date spent only 0.11% (Rs 93 lakh) of the total amount.
The RTI response came on day when Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met his Haryana counterpart ML Khattar in Chandigarh to discuss measures to cut down on toxic air pollution levels by curbing crop stubble burning.
However, Delhi government sources quickly said that the fund would be used to procure 500 electric buses within a year.
"The CM has instructed Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot to start the process. Each bus will cost between Rs 1.6 crore and 2.6 crore," said a government source.
Sources also claimed that Gahlot was meeting officials for the procurement to strengthen non-polluting public transport.
"Since ECC has been enforced, the AAP government did not spend a penny to actually save people from toxic pollution levels. The claim of buying electric buses with the fund as well as meeting the Haryana CM are just an eyewash. If the Delhi government had to spend money on improving infrastructure, it would have done so in two years," said Sanjeev Jain, an RTI activist, who had filed the query.
The amount of Rs 93 lakh has been spent on "paying the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) for pre-tendering incidental cost related for preparation of RFID documents."
Meanwhile, AAP spokesperson and MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said the interference by the Lieutenant Governor — and not shortage of funds — was stalling welfare activities.
"An attempt is being made through some sections of the media that the Delhi government has not spent the revenue earned as ECC. This is a brazen misrepresentation of facts. Never has the Delhi government claimed that it has a lack of funds to undertake any activity in the interest of the people. The government allocates enough funds for schemes, but they are stalled for political reasons by the office of the Lieutenant Governor," said Bharadwaj.
The Supreme Court had in October 2015 ordered the imposition of ECC on light and heavy commercial vehicles entering Delhi. The cess came into force on November 1, 2015.
The SC direction had come after the National Green Tribunal said that commercial vehicles entering city limits must pay — in addition to toll tax — an environment compensation charge. The order had come in the view of pollutant emissions released by goods vehicles. ECC on light commercial vehicles is Rs 700, while for three-axle and above heavy-duty vehicles, it is Rs 1,300.
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