Arvind Kejriwal government sat on Rs 787-cr green fund
While Delhi choked on toxic smog in the past two winters, the AAP government sat on a fund of Rs 787 crore generated as environment compensation charge (ECC) since it came to power in 2015, an RTI query has revealed. The fund was meant to improve transport infrastructure and cut down on pollution in the city. However, the government has till date spent only 0.11% (Rs 93 lakh) of the total amount.
The RTI response came on day when Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met his Haryana counterpart ML Khattar in Chandigarh to discuss measures to cut down on toxic air pollution levels by curbing crop stubble burning.
However, Delhi government sources quickly said that the fund would be used to procure 500 electric buses within a year.
“The CM has instructed Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot to start the process. Each bus will cost between Rs 1.6 crore and 2.6 crore,” said a government source.
Sources also claimed that Gahlot was meeting officials for the procurement to strengthen non-polluting public transport.
“Since ECC has been enforced, the AAP government did not spend a penny to actually save people from toxic pollution levels. The claim of buying electric buses with the fund as well as meeting …read more
