The green tax collection from commercial diesel vehicles (small and medium trucks) entering the Capital through 127 entry points remained a non-starter even on the third day.
While uncertainty continues over the tax collection, the Delhi Government’s Environment Department wrote a letter to the Transport Department on Tuesday asking it to act as the nodal department after the concessionaire demanded clarity over 11 points. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), on the other hand, has issued strict directions to toll contractor for compliance with the Supreme Court orders.
Special Secretary, Department of Environment, issued notification which was forwarded to the contractor for “strict compliance”. The contractor, however, expressed helplessness to implement the court orders and issued legal notice seeking certain queries.
“We have asked the SMYR Consortium to follow the directions given by the Supreme Court. According to the toll tax agreement, signed by the contractor, if a court issues any directions regarding tax collection, then the contractor is bound to follow them. SMYR Consortium, hence, is bound to follow this agreement,” said Radhe Shyam Sharma, chairman of SDMC Standing Committee.
The South Corporation passed the buck to the Delhi Government stating that the 11 points raised by the Consortium falls under the domain of State Transport Department.
The SDMC had 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. The SDMC issued directions for compliance of the said orders by the contractor, who has been apprised that in case of non-compliance it shall be liable for contempt of court.
SMYR Consortium, the firm that collects toll taxes on behalf of the SDMC, had said that lack of clear policy is a major deterrent towards tax collection, thus demanding clarity over issues like security of staff, extra free, tax policy and traffic chaos before taking further decision. The SDMC said it has engaged a contractor to collect the Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) — `700 on small and medium trucks and `1,300 on large trucks — but the private entity could not do so due to lack of infrastructure.
Kishore Agarwal, a partner in SMYR Consortium said toll employees fear violence, adding that they refused to comply when they were asked about the collection of additional taxes. He also pointed towards paucity of workforce and risk of criminal cases being registered against toll collectors for loss of revenue to the Delhi Government in case a toll employee fails to collect the tax from vehicles.