₹858 crore meant to curb pollution still unutilised, says House panel

The committee noted that pollution, whether it be air, water or noise, has gone beyond permissible limits during the last few years and has serious consequences for health and well being of citizens

A fund of ₹858 crore allocated for controlling pollution has remained unutilised according to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change, which also looked at this under usage in the context of India’s standing as one of the most polluted countries in the world.

In its report released on Tuesday, the Committee noted with shock that “amount to the tune of ₹858.00 crore allocated for ‘Control of Pollution’, which is 27.44% of the annual revised estimates allocation of the Ministry, remains unutilized since the approval for continuation of Control of Pollution Scheme till 2025-26, is awaited, even at the fag end of the financial year”. (HT Archive)

In its report released on Tuesday, the Committee noted with shock that “amount to the tune of ₹858.00 crore allocated for ‘Control of Pollution’, which is 27.44% of the annual revised estimates (RE) allocation of the Ministry, remains unutilized since the approval for continuation of Control of Pollution Scheme till 2025-26, is awaited, even at the fag end of the financial year,” the committee said while adding that “the rising environmental pollution in the country not only results into a number of pollution related human diseases and health conditions but negatively impact our ecology too.”

The committee headed by BJP MP, Bhubaneshwar Kalita noted that pollution, whether it be air, water or noise, has gone beyond permissible limits during the last few years and has serious consequences for the health and well being of the citizens of the country. Air pollution, especially, has assumed gigantic proportions and has become a national issue.