Delhi Smog: RTI reveals Kejriwal govt collected Rs 787 crore green tax, spent Rs 0 in last one year

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government has been pitching before National Green Tribunal (NGT) to implement odd-even scheme to curb air pollution in National Capital to improve deteriorating air quality. On contrary, an RTI revealed that the AAP government has only spent 0.12% of Rs 787 crore collected as pollution cess since it came to power.

The facts were revealed after a Right To Information (RTI) query was filed by an activist Sanjeev Jain. He said, “The AAP government did not even spent a single rupee in the last one year even after the Supreme Court and NGT directed the government to take precautionary measures after the city was engulfed with smoke last year.”

The RTI also reveals that the Delhi government is collecting the environment tax from commercial vehic since 2015 on the direction of the Supreme Court. The apex court had directed the government to use the funds in strengthening public transport and improving road conditions.

Jain told News Nation that the Delhi government in a reply to his RTI query informed that the Delhi government had collected more than Rs 787 crore between November 6, 2015 and September 30, 2017.

In the RTI it was also informed that the Delhi government in 2016 the government spent Rs 93 lakh to start a program to identify radiation level in the city.

Also read| Odd-even: Delhi govt urges NGT to exempt women, two-wheelers

Delhi since last week is engulfed with smog. The AQI readings state the level to be severe. The Kejriwal government has blamed neighbouring state Punjab and Haryana farm fires for the city’s smog condition.