Rs 250 crore not shifted to treasury, pollution board informs NGT

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has filed a written submission before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it has not transferred Rs 250 crore to the state treasury, as directed by the government earlier.

However, the status of Rs 84 crore lying with the Forest and Wildlife Conservation Department is not known yet.

Acting on a petition filed by civil society group Public Action Committee (PAC), the NGT had stayed the utilisation of funds lying with the PPCB and the Forest and Wildlife Conservation Department.

The PPCB submitted, “The Government of Punjab, through the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, had initially directed it to deposit Rs 250 crore with the state treasury. The board had received the proceedings of the meeting held under the chairmanship Chief Secretary, Punjab, vide letter No. 6756 dated August 7, 2025.”

The reply further reads that after the facts were presented by the board, the government reconsidered the matter. Pursuant to detailed deliberations, it was decided by the government that the funds amounting to Rs 250 crore lying with the board would not be deposited into the state exchequer. The counsel for the department also sought a short adjournment, citing disruption due to floods. He assured the Bench that the interim order passed on August 18 would be duly complied with.

The directions by the NGT came after The Tribune reported on August 8 that the state government had ordered various departments to transfer Rs 1,441.49 crore to the exchequer, including Rs 250 crore from the PPCB and Rs 84 crore from the Forest Department. Acting on the news report, the PAC petitioned the tribunal, seeking a freeze on such fund transfers.