No proposal to levy 'environmental charge': Govt

The government does not propose to levy an 'environmental charge' on every household in the country to match pace with increasing costs associated with green compliance, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
"There is no such proposal under consideration of the ministry," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written response.
He was asked whether there is any such plan and if the charge will be included in electricity bills.
Some governments, municipalities and private service providers in the West levy an environmental fee to help them recover increasing costs associated with environmental compliance in areas such as carbon emissions and waste disposal facility upgradation.

Seeking to boost the clean India initiative, the government has started imposing a 'Swachh Bharat cess' of 0.5 per cent on all services liable for service tax.