Punjab Allocates ₹15 Billion for Climate Action and Environmental Protection

The Punjab government has set aside ₹15 billion in its 2025-26 budget to tackle environmental challenges and climate change. The funds will support 22 ongoing projects and eight new initiatives, focusing on pollution control, air quality monitoring, and climate resilience.

 

Among the new projects, Punjab will establish an Environmental Monitoring Centre in Lahore, a Climate Observatory, and a Smog Mitigation Initiative. The government is also piloting eco-friendly crop residue management solutions to curb stubble burning, a major contributor to air pollution.

 

Experts have welcomed the move but stress the need for better execution. A recent discussion by the IMPRI Center for Environment and Climate Change highlighted concerns over budget underutilization, with analysts urging a stronger focus on climate adaptation rather than just mitigation.

 

Meanwhile, the Union Budget 2025-26 has prioritized clean energy, with incentives for solar PV cell manufacturing, EV battery recycling, and wind turbine production. However, critics argue that climate adaptation programs—such as disaster preparedness and coastal protection—have been sidelined.

 

With climate disasters on the rise, policymakers face mounting pressure to ensure effective implementation of environmental initiatives. The coming months will reveal whether these budget allocations translate into real impact on the ground.

 

Source: The News International, IMPRI India, Down to Earth