Maharashtra will conduct a city-wise review of clean air funds and may reallocate unspent amounts between cities, as the state government moves to link spending more closely with measurable reductions in pollution.
Environment and Climate Change Minister Pankaja Munde announced the review at a meeting on the use of funds released under the National Clean Air Programme and the 15th Finance Commission. The review will cover around 25 cities and five cantonment boards in Maharashtra that are part of the clean-air programme.
Plans for 19 cities have been approved so far. These cities were selected after violating National Ambient Air Quality Standards for five consecutive years. The state has sought explanations from city administrations that have not used the funds allocated to them.
Officials told the review meeting that 15 of the 19 cities had reduced their PM-10 levels. The source report did not specify the size of the reductions, the individual cities involved or the period over which the improvement was recorded.
Around Rs 2,926 crore has been disbursed under the funding streams being reviewed, of which 60% has been spent. The review therefore places attention not only on the release of money but also on how quickly cities are using it and whether spending is producing cleaner air.
Munde said the funds should not be limited to purchases alone. She directed that their use be assessed against actual pollution reduction, signalling a shift from tracking equipment and expenditure to examining environmental outcomes. The review is also intended to identify unspent funds that could be reallocated across cities.
The decision puts municipal administrations at the centre of the next stage of the programme. Cities will be expected to account for unused allocations and demonstrate how funded measures are contributing to lower pollution levels. The state’s review will determine the further use of unspent funds and the monitoring of results across the participating urban areas.
