Environment Protection: ₹9 Lakh Spent, ₹45.81 Crore Collected in Fines

 

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) collected ₹45.81 crore in environmental fines over six years but spent only ₹9 lakh—0.2% of the total amount—on actual conservation work, according to data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Environmental activist Abhimanyu Gupta, who filed the RTI, said the figures cover the period from 2018 to 2024. The board imposed penalties in various cases, including violations of emission standards and waste management rules, yet no substantial environmental initiatives were recorded in expenditure reports.

Supreme Court orders mandate that fines collected under the “Environmental Protection Fee” must be used exclusively for restoring damaged ecosystems. In Delhi-NCR, most penalties were imposed on diesel vehicles exceeding 2,000 cc engine capacity, as well as large construction projects.

The data shows that in 2023–24 alone, ₹65.28 crore in fines were collected nationwide. In 2024–25, ₹74.39 crore in fines were issued, with ₹31.98 crore from Delhi-NCR alone.

Despite the significant collections, environmental expenditure remained negligible. Experts have stressed that such under-utilization could undermine efforts to tackle pollution, health risks, and climate impacts.

The Supreme Court and the Environment Ministry have been urged to scrutinize the management of these funds and ensure transparent use for genuine ecological restoration.