Last Updated:February 25, 2025, 09:36 IST
Adding to the crisis, none of the 24 DPCC air quality monitoring stations were measuring lead levels, a dangerous pollutant, the report says.
A 2022 CAG audit on Delhi pollution control reveals a troubling disregard for standard practices and regulations. (Image: PTI)
At least 14 CAG reports are set to be tabled in the Delhi Assembly on Tuesday. Sources have told CNN-News18 that several CAG reports that are set to be presented before the Delhi Assembly have flagged serious concerns. One of these reports has raised serious questions on Delhi’s fight against pollution under the Aam Aadmi Party government.
A 2022 CAG audit on pollution control reveals a troubling disregard for standard practices and regulations. Sources say that during periods of critically high air quality index (AQI) in Delhi, even the data from monitoring stations was unreliable due to improper placement. Sources said as per the reports, monitoring stations were not recording accurate data and their location “did not fulfill the requirement.”
Adding to the crisis, none of the 24 DPCC air quality monitoring stations were measuring lead levels, a dangerous pollutant, the report says.
The CAG report also raised concerns over public transportation emissions, saying they were mismanaged. Between April 2018 and August 2019, only 2,980 Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC) were obtained for 1,734 cluster buses, a mere five per cent of the required 58,956 checks. Alarmingly, 13 cluster buses went entirely unchecked in 2019-20.
The reports also pointed out that DTC buses fared no better. A total of 345 DTC buses went without emission tests from September 2015 to March 2019, and between April 2019 and March 2020, not a single DTC bus obtained a timely PUCC. Shockingly, no penalties were issued.
Further investigation reveals potential falsification of emission tests. In September 2019, records show multiple vehicles supposedly tested at the same time in the same facility. In 76,865 instances, vehicles were checked and issued PUC certificates within a minute of each other, casting doubt on the integrity of the testing procedure.
Disturbingly, some petrol, CNG, and LPG vehicles were declared ‘pass’ despite failing their emission tests. These findings point to a systemic failure in Delhi’s pollution control efforts in the past 10 years.