Delhi govt hands over Rs 2,388-crore pollution control project to PWD

The project is likely to cost Rs 2,388 crore over 10 years, according to the proposal. Officials said it is aimed at cleaning dust along carriageways, excluding cleaning footpaths and central verges.

Under this project, the PWD will hire 250 water sprinkler machines fitted with anti-smog guns at an estimated cost of Rs 1,158 crore; 70 mechanical road sweeping (MRS) machines fitted with 210 water sprinklers; and water tankers and anti-smog guns to be hired at a cost of Rs 1,230 crore for seven years.

One of these MRS machines was launched by the Chief Minister and Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Monday.

According to officials, the Delhi government proposed the project in 2023 and handed over responsibility to the PWD.

However, due to “constitutional and statutory provisions regarding transfer of obligatory functions of MCD to PWD… a fresh Cabinet note was

moved by the Environment Department to provide funds to MCD to execute the project, which included engagement of water sprinklers, anti-smog guns, mechanical road sweeping machines… The proposal was approved in November 2023,” said a senior official.

The project faced a roadblock because funds for the MCD had to be given as a Grant-in-Aid, based on estimates raised by the civic body. The Finance Department advised creating a new budget head, as existing ones were only meant for inter-departmental transactions, said officials.

Officials said they began work on this in consultation with the Finance Department and allocated Rs 9.921 crore for 2023-24 and Rs 100 crore for 2024-25 under the new head. However, since MCD did not raise any demand for the funds, they remained unutilised, said officials.

“The project has faced considerable delays… since there is no Standing Committee in the MCD, it may face even more delays. Given the importance of the project, the department has been directed to revise the Cabinet note to get the work executed by the PWD… The Environment Department presented the revised proposal in the last meeting to appoint PWD as the implementing agency…,” said officials.