Delhi govt, World Bank to work together for ‘Clean Air, Healthy Delhi’ Project

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday inaugurated an orientation workshop as part of the ‘Clean Air, Healthy Delhi’ (Delhi Clean Air Programme) while the World Bank formally handed over the confirmation of the Project Preparation Grant Facility to the Delhi government.
The seven-year project of the Environment Department, to be implemented from September 2026 to August 2033, will be carried out with support from the World Bank and other multilateral institutions.
The programme aims to promote the objectives of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).

Addressing the workshop, CM Gupta stated that her government is working on a comprehensive, scientific and long-term strategy to tackle the complex challenge of air pollution. She said improving air quality is not the responsibility of any one department alone, but a collective responsibility shared by all departments.
Delhi Ministers, Parvesh Verma, Ashish Sood and Manjinder Singh Sirsa, along with representatives of Central government’s Department of Economic Affairs, World Bank country head Paul Procee, and other officials attended the workshop at the Delhi Secretariat.
World Bank experts gave presentations on financial management, procurement procedures, environmental and social safeguard standards and institutional preparedness under the Programme for Results (PforR) framework during the session.
Technical assessments and a panel discussion were also held during the workshop, focusing on key interventions to improve air quality.
There were discussions on strategies related to improving the transport system, controlling road dust and strengthening solid waste management.
The Chief Minister said a strong institutional coordination mechanism has been established among the Environment Department, Transport Department, PWD, Municipal Corporation, DPCC, DTL, Delhi Jal Board and other agencies to improve air quality. She emphasized that the ‘Clean Air, Healthy Delhi’ programme reflects government’s vision of giving equal importance to development and environmental protection.
According to her, her government’s strategy is clear, address pollution at its source, strengthen data-driven monitoring, ensure effective enforcement through technology and encourage active public participation.
The ambitious project will be implemented across all districts of Delhi from September 2026 to August 2033.
It has an estimated outlay of Rs 8,300 crore, of which 65 per cent will be financed through a World Bank loan, while the remaining 35 per cent will be borne by the Delhi Government.
Speaking on the occasion, Sirsa stated that Rekha Gupta government has placed environmental protection among its highest priorities, and under the Green Budget for 2026-27, nearly 21 per cent of the total allocation has been earmarked for clean air, a greener Delhi and a cleaner Yamuna.

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