New Delhi: Delhi Legislative Assembly’s transition to the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) has resulted in substantial environmental and administrative gains, with official data showing a steep decline in paper usage and printing expenditure. Figures placed by the secretariat reveal that the adoption of NeVA helped avoid the use of nearly 3.38 lakh pages of paper in a single session, marking a significant move towards a paperless legislative process. The data shows that the digital shift helped save around 41 trees and avoid the use of 3.38 lakh pages of paper. This resulted in nearly 1,690.44 metric tonnes of paper being saved. Carbon emissions associated with paper production and printing were reduced by an estimated 4–4.5 metric tonnes. Before the transition, legislative functioning relied heavily on printed documents such as lists of business, starred and unstarred questions, bills, amendments, committee reports and daily agendas. These were circulated in large volumes among members, departments and officials, resulting in high paper consumption and recurring costs. According to the data, the assembly earlier spent around Rs 1.69 crore per session on printing-related work. With legislators now accessing documents digitally through secured devices under NeVA, printing has been restricted to only unavoidable requirements. As a result, printing expenditure has dropped sharply to about Rs 50,000 per session. Highlighting the environmental impact of the initiative, Speaker Vijender Gupta said that this move has reduced pressure on natural resources used in paper manufacturing and helped cut down on waste generation. He added that the digital platform enables real-time access to legislative documents. Members can now submit questions, access notices, track proceedings and retrieve records digitally, reducing delays and duplication. Legislative information is also uploaded faster, improving public access, Gupta said.
