Delhi govt to levy environment compensation from households

Delhi government today decided to implement the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) order asking every household to pay a minimum environment compensation of Rs 100 for generating sewage in the national capital.
According to a government spokesperson, the move comes after the green court order in May that environment cess should be charged irrespective of whether a household is sewered or not and would be equally applicable to the household located in the unauthorised colonies.
The decision was today taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
A government official said that NGT had also ordered that the compensation in this regard would be directly proportional to the property tax or water bill whichever is higher and for those who reside in unauthorised colonies or not paying water bills, the amount would be in the range of Rs 100 to Rs 500.

On May 8 this year, the tribunal had directed Delhi government, Delhi Jal Board and all Municipal Corporations, Cantonment Board, electricity companies like BSES and all other civic authorities to require payment of environmental compensation from every household which is generating sewage in the entire NCT of Delhi on the Polluters Pay Principle.
The tribunal had also made it clear that payment of "environmental compensation" shall be added to electricity bills, water bill and the property tax demand in order of preference by the respective departments which will transfer the money to Delhi government.