Pollution 'tax' plan for trucks

The Telegraph , Friday, October 02, 2015
Correspondent :
New Delhi, Oct. 1: The Supreme Court today agreed to examine the question of imposing a compensatory surcharge on trucks driving in and out of Delhi to curb the capital's growing pollution levels.

The suggestion was made by senior counsel Harish Salve - who has been assisting the court as amicus curiae on environment-related issues - to deter the trucks from entering the city. According to him, the levy for a heavy vehicle could be around Rs 1,200.

Salve argued that the increasing truck movement was making the problem of air pollution acute, especially children and the elderly, and sought an early hearing on the matter. A bench headed by Chief Justice H.L. Dattu then posted the matter to Monday.

In his brief submission suggesting the imposition of the levy, Salve said Delhi's air pollution levels were higher than those in other major cities in the world. " ...metros in other parts of the world close down when respirable suspended particulate matter, which is particularly toxic for human health, crosses 250ppm."

NGO Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the petitioner, suggested the situation was worse. "Last winter, it touched such limits within the top court and was close to 1000ppm in a place like Lodhi Gardens," the CSE said in a fresh plea filed by counselAparajita Singh.

According to the NGO, trucks account for roughly 70 per cent of Delhi's commercial traffic and are a major hurdle towards a green city.

Salve cited statistics from the civic body and said 22,628 heavy commercial vehicles enter the city daily. The CSE has pegged the figure higher, at 38,588 trucks daily.

According to the NGO, though the apex court had earlier cleared the ambitious eastern and western peripheral expressways almost a decade ago to help such vehicles bypass Delhi, these are yet to take off. "Funding and other contractual problems plaguing the National Highways Authority of India have held these (bypasses) up," the NGO said.

Salve was of the view that a three-axle commercial vehicle be charged Rs 1,200, in addition to the toll. Two-axle trucks and light commercial vehicles, apart from taxis, should be charged Rs 600, the NGO suggested in its petition.

Salve also suggested that such vehicles be fitted with radio frequency identification systems for toll collection from December 1, 2015. The aim is to cut the long queues at toll plazas and check the resultant emissions, a problem compounded by winter fog.

 
SOURCE : http://www.telegraphindia.com/1151002/jsp/nation/story_45783.jsp#.Vg4onZR97IU
 


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