DPCC used only 43% of Environmental Compensation fund collected over past decade: RTI

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has utilised only around 43 per cent of the Environmental Compensation fund collected over the past decade, according to information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The fund, collected from fines on pollution-causing entities, is primarily used for ecological restoration and mitigation of pollution in the national capital.

The RTI filed by environmental activist Amit Gupta has revealed that Rs 158.88 crore was collected between 2015-16 and 2025-2026, and only Rs 68.07 crore was spent during the same period.

Year-wise data shared in the RTI reply showed that collections were highest in 2025-26 (up to February) at Rs 36.53 crore, while expenditure peaked in 2024-25 at Rs 35.93 crore, marking a sharp spike compared to previous years.

The data showed that in 2015-16, Rs 3.58 crore was collected, and only Rs 71 lakh was spent. Whereas in 2016-17, Rs 16.74 crore was collected, and Rs 1.29 crore was utilised. In 2017-18, Rs 3.42 crore was collected, and Rs 2.55 crore was spent, and in the following year, 2018-19, Rs 5.60 crore was collected, and only Rs 1.34 crore was utilised.

In 2019-20, collections rose to Rs 19.84 crore and Rs 1.39 crore spent, while Rs 9.17 crore was collected in 2020-21 and Rs 2.90 crore utilised. The figures for 2021-22 showed Rs 16.84 crore collected and Rs 1.23 crore spent, and for 2022-23, Rs 19.14 crore collected and Rs 1.45 crore utilised.

The RTI data further showed that Rs 11.32 crore was collected in 2023-24, of which Rs 7.84 crore was spent. In 2024-25, Rs 16.63 crore was collected and Rs 35.93 crore utilised. In 2025-26 up to February, Rs 36.53 crore was collected while Rs 11.38 crore was spent.

The DPCC, however, did not provide details of the specific works or projects on which the funds were spent, the RTI reply said.

“Why is such a large amount not being utilised? Where is the money parked? What environmental work has actually been carried out on the ground?” Gupta said, questioning the underutilisation of funds meant for pollution control in Delhi.

“The city is consistently among the most polluted in the country, yet nearly 57 per cent of the allocated or collected funds remain unspent. This is not a question of shortage of money, but of lack of long-term vision and planning,” the activist added.

The pollution control boards impose Environmental Compensation (EC) as fines on industrial units and other entities causing pollution, based on the “Polluter Pays Principle”. The penalty is imposed to deter environmental damage and is often based on the CPCB guidelines, with funds deposited into a designated DPCC account.