Delhi government firm on green tax, in no mood for excuses

NEW DELHI: Taking serious note of non-implementation of Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) ordered by Supreme Court, Delhi government today said that there should be "no excuses" by concerned authorities in collecting green tax in the national capital.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that any laxity in implementing effective steps to counter air pollution will be "detrimental" for the national capital.

Sisodia, who chaired a meeting of head of departments to discuss the non-collection of ECC, said that Delhi government is committed and extremely serious on the implementation of the court's order and "no excuses" should be made by concerned departments in implementation of the order.

"Air pollution is assuming alarming proportion in the national capital and any laxity in implemeting effective steps to counter air pollution will be detrimental for the national capital," Sisodia said.

Toll operator SMYR Consortium has written to government saying that they wish to comply with the court order and implement ECC but there are certain practical problems that have prevented them from realising the charges.

Government officials, who attended the meeting, said that the private operator which collects toll has written a letter to the government seeking help for collecting ECC.

An official said the government is ready to implement, but no excuse can be given to delay the collection of taxes.

Meanwhile, Transport Commissioner Parimal Rai visited some border entry points last night and found that no steps were taken to implement the court's decision.

The Supreme Court had on October 12 directed imposition of an ECC of Rs 700 and Rs 1,300 on commercial vehicles entering Delhi from November 1.

It had held that the order would remain operational for four months till February 29, 2016 on an "experimental basis".

Later, on October 30 the court had refused to modify its order on the issue, while hearing a plea by SMYR Consortium asking the court for to defer its order till December 1.

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) which is nodal agency for realisation of toll tax for three MCDs in the city, maintained that the matter did not pertain to the municipal corporations