Govt releases Rs 2,200 cr to 15 states to counter air quality crisis

New Delhi, Nov 3: In order to counter the air quality crisis, the Central government had decided to release Rs. 2,200 crore as the first installment to 15 states for the improvement of air quality measures in their million-plus cities. The amount has been released based on the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission.

 

 

 

In a tweet, the Office of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said "The government, based on the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, has released Rs 2,200 crore as the first installment to 15 states for the improvement of air quality measures in their million-plus cities."

 

 

This will help the beneficiary states to undertake air quality measures, including capacity-building of the local bodies within their million-plus cities, it added. The states which have been given the amount include Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. 

 

Of the total amount, Rs. 396.5 crore has been released to Maharashtra, Rs. 202.5 crore to Gujarat, Rs. 357 crore to Uttar Pradesh and Rs. 209.5 crore to West Bengal.