NGT Questions Bhopal's 21% Clean Air Fund Utilization

The central bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a stern order regarding the utilization of funds under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in Bhopal. The NGT noted that the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has only utilized 21.18% of the allocated funds for 2024-25, amounting to ₹12.44 crore. This low utilization rate, coupled with the absence of allocated funds in 2023-24 and no reported works for 2025-26, has drawn significant scrutiny.

The NGT bench, comprising judicial member Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, has demanded a report from the BMC and the MP Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) within three weeks. This report is expected to clarify why the funds remained largely unutilized and for what purposes they were indeed used. Concerns have also been raised by petitioners that the funds may not be used for activities directly related to reducing air pollution in the city.

The NGT's order follows a hearing where the BMC presented a report on its work orders. However, the tribunal found that this report did not adequately explain the drastic fall in fund utilization after 2023-24. The tribunal has emphasized the need for specific details on how the funds were utilized and whether this usage aligns with the NCAP notification. The case has been listed for September 21, 2026.