If Supreme Court directs ready to introduce 'pollution compensatory charges': Delhi government

NEW DELHI: Two days after Supreme Court asked the Centre and Delhi government to positively respond to a plea seeking levy of 'pollution compensatory charges', on commercial vehicles plying in the national capital, Delhi government said that it was ready to introduce the same if the apex court directs it in this regard.

A senior official said the Delhi government will submit its roadmap to prevent pollution caused by transit vehicles to the Supreme Court in three-four days.

On October 5, Supreme Court had asked the Centre and Delhi government to positively respond to a plea seeking levy of 'pollution compensatory charges', along with toll tax, on commercial vehicles plying in the national capital, with the Chief Justice and a senior lawyer observing that they and their kin too were victims of the alarming pollution levels.

"If the apex court directs the Delhi government to introduce 'pollution compensatory charges' on transit vehicles, it will proceed accordingly," the official said.

The official also said that there are thousands of commercial vehicles which opt for Delhi's roads instead of the highways to avoid paying toll taxes.

On October 5, Chief Justice H L Dattu had said, "My grandson wears mask due to pollution," when senior advocate Harish Salve had submitted that he had to take steroid for the first time a few days ago.

"My wife has asthma. My daughter has asthma and I had to take steroid first time two days back," Salve had also said.

Seeking enforcement of principle of Environment Law that the polluter has to pay, Salve, who is the amicus curiae in a 1985 PIL filed by environmentalist M C Mehta, had termed the situation as "alarming" and sought urgent intervention before it worsens further due to onset of winter.