Delhi Cabinet steps-up efforts to clean natural environment

As the national capital region continues to be a gas chamber for its residents, the Delhi Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has cleared a series of decisions aimed at strengthening pollution control and improving environmental governance across the national capital.

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the measures are designed to address key sources of air and water pollution while promoting a cleaner and more sustainable urban ecosystem. A major decision includes the approval of Rs 100 crore for the rejuvenation of water bodies under the Delhi government’s control. Of the nearly 1,000 water bodies in the city, around 160 fall directly under the government’s jurisdiction.

Sirsa said restoring these water bodies is vital for pollution mitigation and groundwater recharge, adding that the Chief Minister has directed the work to be completed within a year with full financial backing. Earlier, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) had earmarked Rs 19 crore for the project. With the enhanced allocation, the government aims to fully restore all identified sites, while also coordinating with the Delhi Development Authority to ensure parallel action on water bodies under its control.

The Cabinet also approved the establishment of Delhi’s first e-waste park at Holambi Kalan on an 11.5-acre site adopting a circular & zero-waste model. This park will feature advanced water recirculation systems to ensure zero discharge, setting new standards for sustainable e-waste management and clean industrial development.

In the transport sector, the Cabinet cleared the transfer of operational control of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses from the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) to DTC from the next financial year. The move is expected to improve route planning, accountability and service efficiency, while offering greater job security to drivers and conductors.

The government also decided to continue the ‘No PUCC, No Fuel’ campaign even after the lifting of GRAP restrictions, ensuring year-round enforcement of vehicle emission norms. Recent inspections found irregularities at several PUCC centres, prompting stricter verification.

Additional steps include closure notices to over 400 polluting industries by DPCC, sealing actions by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, commissioning of four new Automated Vehicle Testing Stations, and permitting mist-based dust suppression systems in high-rise buildings. Sirsa said the government is committed to enforcing stringent standards so that all polluters are held accountable.

The 2025 Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report released by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) revealed that Delhi residents stand to lose 8.2 years of their life expectancy due to persistently high concentrations of PM2.5 in the city’s air.