CM unveils green budget for Delhi

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, on Tuesday, described the 2026-27 Budget as a “green budget”, highlighting the Government’s push for sustainable development and a cleaner environment, with a 21 per cent budget allocation towards the initiative. According to the Budget, 21.44 per cent of the total outlay, amounting to Rs 22,236 crore, has been earmarked for green development initiatives. The environment and forest sectors have been allocated Rs 822 crore, up from Rs 505 crore in the previous financial year, marking an increase of 62.7 per cent.

Presenting her second budget, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who also holds the Finance department portfolio, said the government is committed to restoring Delhi’s status as a “Green Delhi” through the development of urban forests, parks, and green spaces. We are allocating Rs 25 crore separately for the Delhi Park and Garden Society.

She further noted that 35 lakh indigenous plants like peepul, mango, and neem will be planted in Delhi in the next four years, and new forest areas will also be developed.  A budget of Rs 130 crore has been allocated for forest development, and Rs 44 crore has been allocated for wildlife protection.

The chief minister said the Government is introducing a Rs 300 crore scheme for “Pollution Control & Emergency Measures”, which will include mechanical sweepers, anti-smog guns, and water sprinklers.

A budget of Rs 204 crore has been allocated to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), specifically to tackle pollution. The Chief Minister also said that the Government is actively working towards introducing advanced technical solutions and monitoring systems through a collaboration with the World Bank. An additional Rs 2 crore has been allocated for monitoring systems (covering the ICCC (Integrated Command and Control Centre), war-room operations, mobile apps, and real-time tracking).

While presenting the “Green Budget”, CM Gupta further said that the government is working to increase waste processing capacity from the current 7,000 metric tonnes to 15,000 metric tonnes per day.

To achieve this, provisions have been made for the expansion of waste-to-energy plants located in Narela, Okhla, Ghazipur, and Tehkhand, she added. “We have achieved significant success in reducing legacy waste, with a 16 per cent reduction at Ghazipur, 54 per cent at Bhalswa, and 68 per cent at Okhla,” she said.

Delhi Green Budget 2026-27

• Total Green Outlay: Rs 22,236 crore (21.44% of total budget).
• Environment & Forests: Rs 822 crore (a 62.7% increase from last year).

Green Cover & Wildlife

• Mass Plantation: 35 lakh indigenous trees (Neem, Peepal, Mango) over 4 years.
• Forest Development: Rs 130 crore allocated for new forest areas.
• Wildlife Protection: Rs 44 crore earmarked for conservation.
• Urban Spaces: Rs 25 crore for the Delhi Park and Garden Society.

Pollution Control & Tech

• Emergency Measures: Rs 300 crore for anti-smog guns, mechanical sweepers, and sprinklers.
• MCD Support: Rs 204 crore specifically for localized pollution tackling.
• Smart Monitoring: Rs 2 crore for a World Bank-collaboration involving an Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) and real-time tracking apps.

Waste Management

• Capacity Boost: Increasing waste processing from 7,000 to 15,000 metric tonnes/day.
• Legacy Waste Success: Okhla: 68% reduction
• Bhalswa: 54% reduction
• Ghazipur: 16% reduction
• Waste-to-Energy: Expansion of plants at Narela, Okhla, Ghazipur, and Tehkhand; conversion of 1,500 tonnes of daily cow dung into energy.

Future Initiatives

• Carbon Credits: Launch of a Carbon Credit Monetisation Scheme using a robust MRV (Measurement, Reporting, Verification) system.
• E-Waste: Structured planning for e-waste management alongside the existing EV ecosystem.