Archive · 22 Aug 2026
NGT Demands Bhopal Air Data, Questions Environmental Fund Use
The National Green Tribunal is checking how clean the air in Bhopal has been.
It asked officials to provide air-quality information for every month since 2019.
The tribunal is also examining how environmental funds were spent.
Bhopal Municipal Corporation said it had used its funds properly.
However, the tribunal noted that only 21.18% of the funds had been used in 2024-25.
It also said some information about spending and completed work was missing.
Officials must explain the spending rules and provide more details.
An advocate representing the petitioner will submit objections in writing within two weeks.
The National Green Tribunal sought month-wise air-quality data for Bhopal from 2019 to the present.
The State Pollution Control Board must report on multiple air-quality parameters before the next hearing.
The tribunal said Bhopal Municipal Corporation used Rs 12.44 crore, or 21.18%, of allocated funds in 2024-25.
No fund-utilisation details were provided for 2025-26, and no 2023-24 works details were available.
Advocate Harshvardhan Tiwari was given two weeks to submit written objections to the compliance report.
- Who
- The National Green Tribunal, Bhopal Municipal Corporation, the State Pollution Control Board, and advocate Harshvardhan Tiwari representing petitioner Rashid Noor Khan.
- What
- The tribunal sought month-wise Bhopal air-quality data and questioned the use and documentation of environmental funds.
- When
- The data requested covers 2019 to the present; the BMC compliance report followed an order dated May 20, 2026.
- Where
- Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
- Why
- The tribunal said fund-use records and details of completed works were incomplete and required clarification under applicable allocation rules.
Authorities' Position
Tribunal and Petitioner's Concerns
Use of environmental funds
Authorities' Position
Bhopal Municipal Corporation argued that the allocated and received funds had been adequately utilised.
Tribunal and Petitioner's Concerns
The National Green Tribunal questioned the low reported utilisation and sought details on the rules, provisions, and notification governing the spending.
Compliance report
Authorities' Position
Bhopal Municipal Corporation submitted a compliance report in response to the tribunal's earlier order.
Tribunal and Petitioner's Concerns
Advocate Harshvardhan Tiwari raised objections, saying environmental schemes and public funds should be used transparently for their intended objectives and in accordance with regulations.
- Air-quality period
- Month-wise data from 2019 to the present
- Funds used in 2024-25
- Rs 12.44 crore
- Share of funds used
- 21.18% of the funds
- Missing 2025-26 information
- No fund-utilisation details were provided
- Missing 2023-24 information
- No details on execution of works were available
- Deadline for objections
- Two weeks
- Previous order date
- May 20, 2026