Delhi Pollution Control Committee Collects More Than Rs 112 Crore in Environmental Compensation Since 2015
Interestingly, it could be noted that Delhi Pollution Control Committee has so far collected more than above Rs 112 crores towards the Environmental Compensation or EC between April 2015 and November 2024. Recent such reports go to National Green Tribunal. In fact, the “polluter pays” principle put into practice by the Government wherein violators of environmental legislation are made liable for the action, and the collected amount is used to carry out the restoration work of the environment.
It has been shown that Central Pollution Control Board makes emphasis on “polluter pays” principle being used to make the environment more enhanced and assist in restoration as well as the strengthening of the monitoring system. The latter has further classified on how environmental compensation can be put into the categories:
According to the DPCC report, in this period between April 2015 and 20 November, 2024, environmental compensation worth Rs 112.08 crore has been collected. Out of the sum collected, an amount of Rs 36.05 crore only has been expended. The amount expended is distributed in the following detail:
Information, Education, and Communication Activities: The highest amount of Rs 10.11 crore has been spent on activities that would create public awareness on environmental issues, educate the public, and encourage the adoption of environmental conservation practices.
Monitoring Systems: The strengthening of environmental monitoring systems has cost Rs 8.77 crore. This includes continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations and noise monitoring stations spread over the entire city.
Laboratory Capacity Building: Total laboratory capacity building to the tune of Rs 6.79 crore was undertaken for air, water, and soil analysis.
Studies Based on NGT Guidelines: Budgetary support made for such studies as guided by the National Green Tribunal relating to the study of environmental degradation and necessary corrective steps worked out at Rs 5.11 crores
Research and Development Studies: With Rs 2.16 crores a research work pertaining to conducting necessary research on an environment basis while rehabilitating is undertaken towards preserving the environmental setting.
Expert and Consultant Fees: The amount spent on experts and consultants, honorariums for specific environmental studies and investigations, is Rs 2.03 crores.
Other Scientific and Technical Reasons: An amount of Rs 1.05 crores was spent on other work of scientific research and technical studies.
Although it incurred all these costs, it was noted that no budgetary provision was made for the above-mentioned important focus areas. These are site remediation of contaminated sites, ecology and environment-related studies, carrying capacity assessment, and health impact assessment. All these are set to receive much attention in the future to make long-term health and sustainability improve.
Major Environmental Compensation Contributors
The report from DPCC further exposed the sectors which were doing environmental compensation and came to a conclusion on which industries and activities had majority share of violation on their account
Majority were gathered from industries and activities that cause air pollution at Rs 18.84 crores
Construction Activities: Amounting Rs 18.60 crores construction activities accounted for environmental compensation for violating environmental regulations.
Medical Institutions: Hospitals and medical institutions that had breached the environmental norms paid a compensation of Rs 17.68 crore.
Hotels: Hotels, who have been the polluters in their ineffective practices of waste disposal and other violations paid a compensation of Rs 13 crore.
Other notable contributors were plastic bag consumers who contributed Rs 2.11 crore and polluted malls that flouted the green norms that amounted to over Rs 49 lakh. It also said it has received Rs 5.82 crore from people or other individuals operating illegal borewells.
Besides, a sum of about Rs 14.40 crores was recovered from “non-conforming areas, which includes unauthorized activities like usage of generators without permission, illegal use of tandoors and dyeing units, pollution in River Yamuna, challans on vehicles and other illegal plastic bag uses, etc.
Areas of Improvement
Over the years, billions of rupees collected and disbursed have been registered and utilized on environmental-related projects, and still, much area calls out to be tapped further. Funds have yet to go towards remediation at contaminated sites, build capacity, or conduct targeted research to find how much level pollution affects humans and their living areas.
This is the majority of the compensation collected yet sitting unspent for environmental restoration and other related activities. This report hints at spending such funds more strategically helping greatly in environmental outcomes of capital.
Conclusion
The report of DPCC shows the challenges and progress in meeting the violation of environmental concerns in Delhi. Though earnest money has been used for valuable work such as site remediation, capacity building, and specific environmental studies, much more needs to be done. As the fear of air and water pollution becomes ever more facts of life in the city of Delhi, it would have to be used far more sharply and precisely to establish real and enduring improvements in the environmental health of the city itself.
Source: Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC)