Shimla civic body mulls green tax on vehicles

In an effort to reduce vehicle congestion in the popular resort town of Shimla, the municipal corporation here is proposing imposing a green tax on all vehicles entering the hill station.

This tax is proposed on the basis of a green tax already being imposed in Manali, another crowded resort town of Himachal Pradesh.

Only vehicles from outside the state will be taxed while local ones will be exempt, a spokesman of the Shimla MC said Wednesday.

Under the HP MC amendment act 2011, the corporation has been authorised under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) act.Shimla has already been selected under the mission.The matter will come up in the next session of the civic body, the spokesman said.

The income generated from the green tax will be spent on the improvement of the environment and civic amenities in Shimla.

This summer saw the largest number of vehicles entering the town often causing long traffic snarls.Due to the steep mountain terrain the resort town has very limited parking space.The cost of parking is very high.

If one does find a parking lot, one has to walk long distances as many roads in the heart of Shimla are out of bounds for vehicles as well.The vehicle green tax rate list will be finalised in the next civic body session,an official said.

Currently a two wheeler entering Manali has to pay Rs 100 a car Rs 200, a sumo sized vehicle Rs 300, while a bus or truck has to cough up Rs 500 per vehicle.