Delhi's Green Budget: A Commitment to Sustainable Development

Delhi's Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has announced the 2026-27 budget, highlighting its focus on sustainability and environmental initiatives. With 21% of the budget dedicated to green projects, significant funds are allocated for tree planting, pollution control, and waste management. The government aims to enhance the city's green spaces and improve waste processing capabilities. Gupta's commitment to restoring Delhi's green status includes plans for advanced monitoring systems and collaboration with the World Bank. This budget marks a pivotal step towards a cleaner and more sustainable future for the capital.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 24, 2026, 16:44 IST

Delhi's Chief Minister Unveils Green Budget for 2026-27

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta of Delhi introduced the 2026-27 budget, emphasizing its designation as a Green Budget aimed at promoting sustainable development and a clean environment. A significant 21% of the total budget has been allocated for this initiative.

According to the budget details, 21.44% of the total expenditure, amounting to ₹22,236 crores, is earmarked for green development initiatives. The allocation for the environment and forestry sectors has been increased to ₹822 crores, reflecting a 62.7% rise from the previous fiscal year's ₹505 crores.

The Chief Minister stated, 'The government is dedicated to restoring Delhi's status as a green city through the development of urban forests, parks, and green spaces. We are allocating an additional ₹25 crores specifically for the Delhi Park and Garden Society.'

Gupta announced plans to plant 3.5 million indigenous trees, including Peepal, Mango, and Neem, over the next four years, alongside the development of new forest areas. She mentioned that ₹130 crores have been set aside for forest development and ₹44 crores for wildlife conservation.

Additionally, the government is launching a ₹300 crore initiative focused on pollution control and emergency measures, which will include mechanical sweepers, anti-smog guns, and water sprinklers.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has been allocated a special budget of ₹204 crores to tackle pollution. Gupta, who also oversees the finance department, noted that the government is actively working with the World Bank to implement advanced technological solutions and monitoring systems. An extra ₹2 crores have been allocated for monitoring systems, including the Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC), war room operations, mobile apps, and real-time tracking.

While presenting the Green Budget, Gupta highlighted the government's efforts to increase waste processing capacity from the current 7,000 tons to 15,000 tons per day.

To achieve this goal, provisions have been made for the expansion of waste-to-energy plants located in Narela, Okhla, Ghazipur, and Tehkhand. Gupta remarked on the significant success in reducing old waste mounds, with reductions of 16% in Ghazipur, 54% in Bhalswa, and 68% in Okhla. This indicates a clear and tangible shift in the city's waste management approach.

She also mentioned that approximately 1,500 tons of cow dung waste generated daily in Delhi will be processed into energy. Furthermore, plans are underway to enhance the electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and to initiate a structured plan for e-waste management.