Delhi pollution study halted over concerns of “substantial expenses”

Atul Krishna

| Updated: 25 October, 2023 5:40 pm IST

Atishi Marlena Minister of Education of Delhi and Gopal Rai Minister of General Administration of Delhi at Press Conference (TNI Photo by Sumit Kumar)

NEW DELHI: Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai accused Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) chairperson, Ashwani Kumar, of halting the pollution study without any consultation with government or public.

The study proposal, which aimed to provide crucial insights into the sources of pollution in Delhi, had received approval from the Delhi Cabinet in July 2021. An MoU was signed with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur in October 2022. The estimated cost of this study exceeded Rs 12 crore, and the Delhi government had already disbursed Rs 10 crore to IIT Kanpur for equipment acquisition.

Chairman Ashwani Kumar, who took over as DPCC Chairman in December, had expressed concerns about the “substantial expenses” associated with the study in a file note earlier this year. Despite numerous meetings with IIT Kanpur scientists, Kumar ordered the release of remaining funds to be stopped on October 18, effectively bringing the study to an unexpected halt.

Rai, expressed deep regret over the decision to terminate the study, especially at a critical time when Delhi urgently needs scientific data to address its pressing pollution concerns.

Rai also blamed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act 2023″, he said, “ This is happening because of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act 2023 this is why we have challenged it before the apex court”

In response to this startling development, Minister Rai has called upon Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to take immediate action against Chairman Kumar for his “insensitive and irresponsible behaviour.”