One battle against pollution city is winning

New Delhi: The hike in the environment compensation charge (ECC) payable by light and heavy commercial vehicles entering Delhi, ordered by the Supreme Court on Wednesday, is likely to stop most non-destined trucks from rolling into the capital. This could help bring down pollutions levels, feel experts.
The Supreme Court doubled the earlier ECC rates to Rs 1,400 for light vehicles (two-axle) and Rs 2,800 for heavy vehicles (three-axle and above)."These higher rates will force non-destined trucks to take cheaper diversions," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment.
Roychowdhury explained that a single four-axle truck is as polluting as 10 cars put together, so their role in aggravating Delhi's air quality could not be ignored. "The government must take the Supreme Court's order seriously and monitor the implementation of the new order at all the entry points," she said. While happy that the decrease in the number of trucks entering Delhi would aid pollution control, she suggested that the money collected as ECC be used to improve the public transport system.
The number of trucks entering the capital declined by 30% when the ECC was imposed for the first time on commercial vehicles in November, according to Radhey Shyam Sharma, chairman of the Standing Committee of South Delhi Corporation. Officials there feel that the new rates are likely to take the number to 60% at the 124 entry points.
The civic body, for which toll tax is a major source of revenue, is worried at the impact of the enhanced entry charges. "Since the implementation of the November order of the SC, the private concessionaire contracted to carry out the tax collection is paying the corporation 30% less than the agreed amount," said Sharma. "The new order will further impact the toll revenue and affect our budget."
Sources claim the private contractor even might pull out of the agreement with the South Corporation as the dwindling number of trucks at the borders has started denting its business.