Toll operator refuses to levy green tax until its demands are met

Even as the stalemate over “green tax” for commercial vehicles continues, toll collectors managing booths at entry-points into Delhi have refused to collect the tax, defying a Supreme Court order aimed at reducing the national capital’s air pollution. SMYR, the consortium that has been collecting toll tax on behalf of the Delhi government, said no toll would be collected till grievances of toll operators were met

The apex court had ordered in October that all commercial vehicles entering Delhi will have to pay the environment concession charge (ECC) from November 1. The toll was to be introduced on an experimental basis for four months. However, it did not generate any revenue on the first day. All light-duty vehicles and two-axle trucks are required to pay Rs 700, while vehicles having three or more axles need to cough up Rs 1,300. Passenger buses and vehicles carrying essential commodities, food articles and ambulances are exempted.
 

Talking to Business Standard, a senior SMYR official said, “No toll will be collected on the night of November 2 and subsequent nights, until our grievances are met.” He added the consortium was open to dialogue on the issue with the municipal corporations of Delhi and other stakeholders. The consortium has been tasked with collecting toll from 125 of 127 entry points into the city. SMYR had requested the Supreme Court last week that the order be deferred till December 1. It had cited operational incapability as well as difficulties in existing arrangements with the corporations.

WHAT THE LEVY HOLDS

• SC had mandated in October that all commercial vehicles entering the capital will have to pay an environment concession charge from November 1
  

 

Levy set to remain operational for four months on a pilot basis; no toll was generated on the first day
 

All light duty vehicles and two axle trucks are required to pay Rs 700 while vehicles having three or more axles need to cough up Rs 1,300
 

Passenger buses and vehicles carrying essential commodities, food articles and ambulances are exempted

The consortium had also said ECC was beyond the terms of agreement it entered into with the civic bodies, and a new pact should be reached factoring in the court’s directions. According to the existing contract, the concessionaire will have to pay Rs 550 crore annually to the corporation for a period of five years even if it makes losses.

However, a Bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Amitava Roy had declined the plea. The court had also set the next date of hearing on November 16. The company will have to submit the implementation report on that day.

The concessionaire had also argued the issue of safety of its staff who man the booths, saying such a substantial rise in toll might invite violence from drivers of commercial vehicles, many of whom were still unaware of the court order.

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), however, countered this, saying the responsibility of making the order public rested on the government which had taken necessary action by putting up billboards at all entry points. CSE cited the loss of revenue as a motive for SMYR’s opposition.

The NGO also questioned the rationale behind holding up a process, which would require a significant period of time to become a common practice.

Civic body leaders and officials washed their hands of the issue, saying since the apex court ordered the concessionaire to collect the levy, the consortium would have to bear the consequences of not complying with the directive.