New Delhi – In a significant boost to air pollution control efforts in the National Capital Region, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has disbursed over ₹238 crore to nine Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for clean-air initiatives under the Environment Protection Charge (EPC) fund, revealed an RTI reply.
The cities that have received funds through their respective state pollution control boards include Gurugram, Jind, Narnaul, Nuh, Palwal, Greater Noida, Hapur, Bharatpur, and Bhiwadi, according to the CPCB’s air quality management division.
Additionally, the CPCB noted that ₹18.56 crore is in the pipeline for seven more cities — Bahadurgarh, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Daruhera, Karnal, Panipat, and Sonipat — pending disbursement through the Haryana State Pollution Control Board.
🌱 How the Funds Are Used
The EPC funds are intended as gap-funding support for implementing each city’s action plan to improve air quality. According to CPCB guidelines, 75% of the annual EPC funds are designated for such purposes across 19 NCR cities.
The funds are released upon receipt of work orders for projects such as:
- Mechanical road-sweeping machines
- Anti-smog guns
- Pavement construction and road improvement
- Scientific air-quality assessment studies
- Pollution modeling and health impact research
📣 Activist Calls for Better Utilisation
The RTI application was filed by Dehradun-based environmental activist Amit Gupta, who has been tracking the usage of EPC and Environment Compensation (EC) funds.
“It is high time that the CPCB starts using these funds effectively for pollution control,” Gupta said, noting that a significant portion remains unused.
“The peak pollution season is just three months away. These funds could make a big difference in controlling air pollution in Delhi-NCR,” he added.
Gupta also urged the CPCB to enhance transparency and accelerate implementation ahead of winter when air quality deteriorates sharply.
🔍 Curbing Stubble Burning Also a Focus
The CPCB’s reply also highlighted efforts to reduce stubble burning, a major contributor to seasonal smog, by incentivising cleaner alternatives through the EPC fund.