The Maharashtra Government has decided to impose an environment tax on 15 lakh private vehicles registered in the State which are more that 15 years old and six lakh goods and transport vehicles that are more than eight years old.
The Cabinet took the decision on Wednesday to dissuade motorists from using older vehicles, as they pollute more due to their ageing engines. Changes would be made in the Mumbai Motor Vehicle Tax Act of 1958 to accommodate the new tax.
Private diesel-fuelled vehicles will attract Rs 3,500 tax for five years, petrol vehicles would be levied Rs 3,000 and Rs 2,000 for two-wheelers. For non-CNG auto rickshaws, it would be Rs 750 for five years. While for taxis having up to six seats, it would be Rs 1,250 and for light commercial vehicles, it would be Rs 2,500.
Polluter must pay
The tax structure for heavy commercial vehicles would be based on their load carrying capacity.
The Transport Secretary Mr C.S. Sangitrao, told Business Line that the idea of the green tax is not to make money but to ensure that older vehicles are taken off the road. The Government is following the principle ‘one who pollutes must pay’, which has been stressed by the Supreme Court in its various judgments, he said.
According to a press statement issued by the State Government, the taxes thus collected from the motorists would be ploughed back into projects for pollution control, clean fuel and for creating better testing and certifying infrastructure for vehicles.
