New Delhi, Mar 25 (PTI) An integrated command and control centre has been proposed in the 2025-26 Delhi budget, presented by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday, for real-time monitoring of air quality, water pollution, noise levels, and waste management.
Presenting the 2025-26 Budget in the Delhi Assembly, Gupta announced an allocation of Rs 506 crore for the environment and forest departments.
A sum of Rs 300 crore has been earmarked for “Pollution Control and Emergency Measures” to implement eco-friendly reforms, and Rs 20 crore under the “Delhi Parks and Garden Society” scheme to support RWAs, NGOs, and other organisations in greening parks and public spaces.
Gupta highlighted that a large-scale tree plantation drive targeting 70 lakh saplings will be launched to expand Delhi’s green cover, control air pollution, and promote urban biodiversity.
For the first time, 32 Water Quality Monitoring Stations will be installed along the Yamuna River and key drains to enable real-time tracking of water contamination.
Additionally, six new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (CAAQM) stations will be set up at strategic locations to provide live data for better pollution management.
“Our efforts will not only reduce pollution but also ensure a clean, healthy environment for future generations,” Gupta said.
Gupta presented the Rs 1 lakh-crore budget for 2025-26, which marks a 31.5 per cent increase from the previous year. It is also the first budget presented by a BJP-led government in Delhi in over 26 years.
Delhi govt unveils Rs 1,500-cr plan for Yamuna cleaning, sewage management
(PTI) Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday announced a comprehensive Rs 1,500-crore plan to clean the Yamuna River and improve Delhi's sewage infrastructure, marking an ambitious river rejuvenation effort in the national capital.
The plan includes the construction of 40 decentralised sewage treatment plants (STPs), modernisation of existing STPs, and investment in advanced machinery to tackle waste and pollution.
In a bid to ensure that untreated sewage does not flow into the Yamuna, the Delhi government will build 40 decentralised STPs at a cost of Rs 500 crore. These plants will treat wastewater at the source before it enters major drains, reducing pollution levels in the river. Additionally, the government has committed to upgrading existing STPs to enhance their operational capacity.
"The Yamuna is not just a river; it is our cultural and historical heritage. Cleaning Yamuna is an important part of our manifesto and remains a top priority in this budget," CM Gupta said during her budget speech.
The government has earmarked Rs 500 crore for repairing and developing sewage treatment plants, Rs 250 crore for replacing old sewer lines, and another Rs 250 crore for improving water treatment plants across the city.
To further strengthen the sewage management system, Rs 20 crore will be spent on purchasing super sucker and dicky machines, which will help in efficient removal of sludge and blockages. An additional Rs 10 crore has been allocated for the renovation of the Wazirabad trunk sewer.
To prevent the direct flow of untreated wastewater into the Yamuna, Rs 250 crore has been allocated for a drain-tapping project that will divert and treat wastewater from major drains. The Najafgarh Drain, one of the largest contributors to Yamuna's pollution, will see a Rs 200-crore investment for its conversion and interception.
Furthermore, Rs 40 crore will be used to purchase modern equipment, including trash skimmers, weed harvesters, and dredge utility machines, to keep the river clean.
Highlighting the scale of the challenge, the Delhi government has requested Rs 2,000 crore in financial assistance from the Centre to bring the capital's water and sewage infrastructure in line with international standards.
"Our commitment to cleaning the Yamuna is unwavering. This is not just a budgetary announcement but a promise to the people of Delhi," CM Gupta asserted.
High pollution levels in the 57-km stretch of the Yamuna in Delhi were a bone of contention between the AAP and the BJP in the Delhi assembly elections concluded last month. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also announced during the campaigning for the polls as well as after the BJP winning the elections that cleaning the Yamuna will be the saffron party's top-most priority.
This Budget is the first presented by a BJP-led government in Delhi in over 26 years, following the party's victory over the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in last month's assembly elections.
(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)