L-G asks Delhi govt to give details of green tax

New Delhi : Lieutenant governor (LG) Anil Baijal has sought a report from the Arvind Kejriwal government over alleged non-utilisation of Rs 1,002 crore collected as environment compensation charges (ECC).

The LG’s direction came after a memorandum was submitted by Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari and Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta requesting an inquiry “into non- utilisation or misuse of government money of environment cess to the tune of Rs 1,002 crore”.

“Mr Baijal has desired that a report in the said matter through the transport ministry of Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) be submitted expeditiously for his kind perusal,” R.N. Sharma, special secretary to LG, said in a letter to the transport commissioner.

Mr Tiwari and Mr Gupta had called on Mr Baijal on Nov. 16 and urged him to seek a report from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on the CEE and direct it to procure 8,000 new buses with the fund thus collected.

Earlier this month, the Delhi government had been criticised for non-utilisation of over Rs 1,000 crore collected as ECC (till Nov. 10), when the city was grappling with air pollution crisis. Facing flak from the LG, especially during severe air pollution levels in the city, the Delhi government had announced that it would procure 500 electric e-buses shortly.