SDMC again issues order to toll tax contractor to levy ECC

South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) today again issued an order to its toll tax contractor SMYR Consortium for complying with Supreme Court order and start levying ECC from trucks and other commercial vehicles entering Delhi, otherwise face contempt of the court order.
"SDMC, nodal agency for toll tax, is fully committed to get the orders passed by the Apex Court complied with. SDMC even approached the Apex Court for issuing necessary directions to its contractor SMYR for compliance of its orders which will come up for hearing on November 16, said a senior municipal corporation officer.
Necessary orders and directions were issued to the contractor on October 23 and 30, and November 1 and 3 for compliance of court warning that it will be liable for contempt of court order, said the officer.

The Supreme Court in its order on October 12, had directed for realising Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) of Rs 1300 from trucks and Rs 700 from smaller commercial vehicles entering Delhi, from November 1, in a bid to check high level of pollution in the city.
The court order is yet to be implemented as the contractor has expressed its "inability" to levy ECC due to several reasons including lack of infrastructure and manpower.
"We wish to comply with the court order and implement ECC but there are certain practical problems that have prevented us from realising the court directed charge," said Kishor Agarwal of SMYR Consortium.