Delhi News: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has mandated a hike of up to 53 percent on heavy and light commercial vehicles including vans, dumpers and trucks that enter Delhi. Citing a recent Supreme Court order, the MCD announced that heavy and light commercial vehicles would now be paying higher Environment Compensation Charges (ECC) to disincentivize polluting vehicles from other states from passing via the national capital.
DON'T MISS
Delhi News-What’s New?
Starting April 19, the Environment Compensation Charges for two-axle trucks and light commercial vehicles has been increased to Rs. 2000 from Rs. 1400 while the charges for vehicles with four or more axles and three-axle trucks has gone up to Rs. 4000 from Rs. 2600.
Every day, about 4000-5000 such vehicles enter the territorial limits of Delhi. Deputy commissioner (toll tax), MCD, remarked that the Supreme Court has passed an order in the case of MC Mehta vs Union of India to increase the ECC rate. The MCD in compliance with the said order is hereby directing Shahkar Global (private agency collecting toll) to comply both in spirit and letter regarding ECC collection with immediate effect at enhanced rates.
The Supreme Court had cleared the hike’s proposal on March 12 as it closed the 1985 MC Mehta case, which has been the longest-running judicial intervention on urban air quality in the world.
What is Environment Compensation Charge?
ECC is a form of fee that gets levied (to mitigate air pollution) on commercial vehicles that enter Delhi. In 2015, the ECC was first imposed by the Supreme Court acting on recommendations to address the highly severe air quality challenges faced by the city and its residents. The charge would help in discouraging polluting vehicles from entering the limits of Delhi. Moreover, it would also help in funding initiatives for enhancing public transport and pedestrian infrastructure.
 on commercial vehicles that enter Delhi.){kind=link}