Delhi government’s Rs 53,000 crore FY2019 Budget sees sharp focus on reducing pollution

The Delhi government has earmarked a Rs 53,000 crore in its budget for FY2018-19. The humungous budget includes a major thrust towards reducing pollution in the city, along with a focus on infrastructure and social welfare, as per PTI.

The state government has announced installation of around 120,000 CCTV cameras in the capital city by June 2019, along with 26 programmes and schemes for transport, power, environment and PWD (public works department) for devising a unified system of pollution control and bringing down levels of different pollutants.

Arvind Kejriwal, chief minister of Delhi said, “In the budget, the government had taken care of all sections of society. There is a lot for poor people, women, middle class and students. It is a first of its kind Green Budget in the country. Besides education and health, we have focused on roads, sewer and water. We have also stressed on investment in these three areas."

Manish Sisodia, deputy chief minister of Delhi said, "The budget estimates for 2018-19 are pegged at Rs 53,000 crore which is 19.45 percent more than the revised budget estimates of Rs 44,370 crore for the previous financial year."

The budget puts a thrust on reducing pollution levels in the national capital by proposing various measures that include 1,000 electric buses to be introduced in Delhi, making it the second largest public e-bus fleet in the world after China, a provision for 905 electric vehicles for last mile connectivity and concession of upto 50 percent for registration of CNG cars.