Delhi budget: Government plans subsidies, saplings for cleaner city

NEW DELHI: Around 12 lakh saplings will be planted in Delhi in the current financial year by all concerned government agencies in order to improve the air quality, Delhi government said today.

Presenting the budget for the financial year 2015-16, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that owners of newly purchased battery operated 4 wheelers and 2 wheelers will be given subsidy by Delhi government in addition to subsidy introduced by Central government.

"I propose to provide one-time fixed subsidy of Rs 15,000 to battery operated e-rickshaw owners, authorized by Transport Department and registered with registering authority of Transport Department.

"An individual can claim subsidy only on one e-rickshaw, that is no subsidy shall be allowed on subsequent purchases by the same individual...and the money so collected is being maintained as a separate fund to be utilised for improvement of the environment," he said.

Sisodia said that a project for setting up of Treatment Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) for disposal of hazardous waste has been planned for which 14 acres of land of North DMC has been given to DSIIDC.

The Deputy CM also informed that TSM survey of Central and Southern Ridge is proposed to be taken up in the current year. In order to facilitate ease of doing business, agencies can apply online for tree cutting permission.

Asserting that the deficiency in public conveniences and private toilets will be addressed in a holistic manner by this government, he said, "A massive programme for construction of public toilets is being taken up through DUSIB. About 4,000 additional WC seats at 53 slum clusters, 130 pre fab WC seats at 4 slum clusters and 67 Mobile Toilet Vans with bio-digesters are proposed to be made available in the current financial year."

Pointing out government's focus on utilisation of waste energy, he said that a Waste-to-Energy Plant of 12 MW capacity at Gazipur is going to be made operational soon.

Another plant is being set up near Narela-Bawana Road SLF site which will generate 24 MW electricity.

Pollution Under Control (PUC) Monitoring Centers will function on real time online basis from July 2015, which will avoid manual interference particularly with regard to tampering of data and wilful mis-reporting, Sisodia said.