The diesel-guzzling trucks and commercial vehicles entering Delhi from neighbouring States will have to pay Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) with effect from Saturday. While large trucks have to pay Rs 1,300 as ECC, small commercial vehicle will pay Rs 700.
South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) will collect the levy and will hand it over to the Delhi Government.
"The toll contractors will submit the money from ECC to us and the amount will be given to the Delhi Government which will be further used for the road constructions," said Mukesh Yadav, SDMC spokesperson.
Meanwhile, environmentalists have welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court and said that ECC will reduce number of commercial vehicles entering the national Capital. It will have positive effect in Delhi, they added.
"These trucks and other commercial vehicles are of the Bharat Stage III and IV emission standards and they are primary contributor of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5," said Gopal Krishanan, environmentalist. "Trucks are primarily responsible for the emission of Nitrogen Oxide and other harmful gases," he added.
On Friday, the Supreme Court rejected the plea of civic agencies to defer the date for collection of Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) on all trucks and commercial vehicles passing through Delhi from November 1 to December 1. Keeping in mind the level of pollution in Delhi's air, both the State and Central Governments agreed for the implementation of ECC from November 1.
As per a survey, everyday, an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 trucks enter the national Capital through the 127 entry points while 13,000 of them use Delhi just as a transit route.
From January 31, CCTV cameras will be installed at all the entry points to ensure the green tax is being charged. The Delhi Government also issued an advertisement about the impositions of ECC in newspapers to make people aware.