New Delhi: The government of Delhi has announced an ambitious environmental plan worth over Rs 22,000 crore aimed at addressing the capital’s long standing air pollution crisis and the severe contamination of the Yamuna River.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday presented the 2026 to 2027 Green Budget, allocating more than 21 percent of the total state budget of Rs 1.03 lakh crore for projects connected to environmental improvement. The initiative seeks to ensure that spending across the government produces measurable progress in areas such as air quality, water treatment and pollution control.
A key feature of the plan is a new system that requires 17 government departments to monitor and report how their spending contributes to environmental goals. Under this framework, every department will link its expenditures to outcomes like cleaner air, improved water quality and reduced pollution levels. A dedicated Green Fund will support projects across departments, aiming to reduce coordination gaps that have slowed earlier clean up efforts.
The largest share of the allocation, Rs 6,485 crore, has been earmarked for the Delhi Jal Board to strengthen sewage treatment and accelerate the cleaning of the Yamuna. Untreated and partially treated sewage discharged through major drains remains one of the biggest contributors to pollution in the river. Authorities believe improving sewage infrastructure is essential to reducing the contamination load.
The budget also focuses heavily on reducing pollution from vehicles and dust, two major sources of poor air quality in the city. Around Rs 4,758 crore has been allocated to expand the electric bus fleet and improve public transport systems. Another Rs 3,350 crore will be used to control road dust and promote greener urban infrastructure.
Unlike earlier strategies that relied on limited departments, the new plan spreads responsibility across multiple sectors including planning, urban development and power. Additional funding will also support afforestation, water conservation, cleaner industrial practices, green school initiatives and environmental upgrades in hospitals.
While the scale of the investment is significant, the effectiveness of the initiative will ultimately depend on how efficiently departments implement the projects and deliver visible improvements on the ground.
