Archive · 13 Jan 2026
Maharashtra Misses Rs 1,415 Crore Pollution Funds
The government planned to give money to cities in Maharashtra to help with air pollution.
This money was supposed to be used for things like electric buses and better waste management.
However, because the elections for local leaders were delayed, the cities couldn't get the money after 2022.
This means they missed out on Rs 1,415 crore that could have helped make the air cleaner.
Some cities did get some money and used it for electric buses and other projects, but a lot of the planned money didn't arrive.
Mumbai, one of the richest civic bodies in Asia, has an annual budget of ₹74,000 crores for 2025, which is much larger than other major Indian cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, and Ahmedabad.
20 civic bodies in Maharashtra missed out on Rs 1,415 crore central funds for air quality management due to delayed elections.
The funds were part of the Fifteenth Finance Commission's grants for improving air quality in major cities.
Only Rs 1,555.34 crore of the allocated Rs 2,981 crore was disbursed to Maharashtra between 2020 and 2026.
The delay in elections, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and Supreme Court decisions, led to the halt in fund disbursement.
Received funds were primarily used for acquiring electric vehicles and improving solid waste management and dust displacement measures.
- Who
- 20 civic bodies in Maharashtra, including BMC and five other large municipal corporations
- What
- Missed out on Rs 1,415 crore central funds for air quality management
- When
- After 2022
- Where
- Maharashtra, India
- Why
- Delay in civic body elections due to COVID-19 pandemic and Supreme Court decisions
Government Perspective
Civic Bodies Perspective
Fund Allocation and Utilization
Government Perspective
The government allocated funds based on the Fifteenth Finance Commission's grants and disbursed them as per the election schedule.
Civic Bodies Perspective
Civic bodies argue that the delay in elections, caused by external factors, led to the loss of crucial funds for air quality management.
- Total Allocated Funds
- Rs 2,981 crore
- Funds Received
- Rs 1,555.34 crore
- Funds Missed
- Rs 1,415.66 crore
- Period
- 2020-2026
- Primary Cities Involved
- Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Vasai-Virar, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar
- Reason for Delay
- Delay in civic body elections
- Fund Utilization
- 74.75% of received funds utilized
- Major Utilization Areas
- Electric vehicles, solid waste management, dust displacement measures
- Mumbai's Annual Budget
- ₹74,000 crores for 2025
- Delhi's Annual Budget
- ₹17,000 crores for 2025
- Kolkata's Annual Budget
- ₹5,639 crores for 2025
- Chennai's Annual Budget
- ₹8,404.70 crores for 2025
- Hyderabad's Annual Budget
- ₹11,460 crores for 2025-2026
- Bengaluru's Annual Budget
- ₹19,930.64 crores for 2025
- Pune's Annual Budget
- ₹12,618 crores for 2025
- Ahmedabad's Annual Budget
- ₹14,000 crores for 2025
Sources
Poll delay: 20 Maharashtra civic bodies missed out on Rs 1,415 cr central funds for pollution control
Mumbai BMC Elections 2026: Beyond Political Noise, The Civic And Economic Stakes That Will Decide The City’s Future
How Large Is Mumbai's Budget?
