Centre plans to impose Green Tax on old, polluting vehicles

NEW DELHI: The government plans to impose a green tax on old polluting vehicles soon in a bid protect the environment and curb pollution.

Vehicles like strong hybrids, electric vehicles and those running on alternate fuels like CNG, ethanol and LPG will be exempted while the revenue collected through the green tax will be utilised for tackling pollution, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said on Monday.

"The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has approved a proposal to levy a ''green tax'' on old vehicles which are polluting the environment," it said in a statement.

The proposal will now go to the states for consultation before it is formally notified, it added.

Under the scheme, transport vehicles older than eight years could be charged green tax at the time of renewal of fitness certificate at the rate of 10 to 25 per cent of road tax.

"Personal vehicles to be charged green tax at the time of renewal of registration certification after 15 years; public transport vehicles, such as city buses, to be charged lower green tax; higher green tax (50 per cent of road tax) for vehicles being registered in highly polluted cities," the statement said.

Differential tax will also be charged depending on fuel (petrol/ diesel) and the type of vehicle.