An RTI query has revealed that the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government has spent only Rs 93 lakh of the Rs 787 crore environment cess it has collected.

As Delhi wages a battle with the deadly smog and severe air quality levels, the Delhi government squatting on funds is likely to provide the Opposition enough ammunition to target Arvind Kejriwal.

As per the RTI application, Rs 93 lakh was paid to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation for payment towards pre-tendering incidental cost related to preparation of RFID documents.

The environmental cess or environment compensation charge is collected by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation and remitted to the transport department. The fund can be used for environment preservation and strengthening of public transport system. 

While road dust has often been cited as one of the major causes for air pollution in Delhi, the government says the public works department (PWD) has sufficient budget for it.

The Delhi government now says the Rs 786 crore cess fund will be used to strengthen the public transport system in the national capital. The Kejriwal government says it plans to use the Rs 786 crore fund for procurement of 500 electric buses besides 2,000 DTC and cluster buses.

In this regard, Kejriwal chaired a meeting on Tuesday and instructed transport minister Kailash Gahlot to start the process for introducing electric buses in the capital.

The transport minister will meet DIMTS (Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transit System) officials for procurement of electric buses to strengthen non-polluting modes of public transport in Delhi.

According to sources, the Delhi government has a short-term plan to buy 500 electric buses within a year. Two types of electric buses are being considered--low-floor AC medium bus and low-floor AC standard bus. Each bus will cost anywhere between Rs 1.6 crore and Rs 2.6 crore.