MOVE MAY COURT TROUBLE
State gives legal sanctity to green tax on old vehicles …….Sandeep Ashar & Somit Sen
State gives legal sanctity to green tax on old vehicles …….Sandeep Ashar & Somit Sen
Mumbai:It is time for owners of old private and commercial vehicles to pay an extra fee for polluting the environment or junk them.Three months after the cabinet approved a proposal for the levy of green tax on such vehicles,the state transport department has finally introduced an ordinance to this effect.
The Bombay Motor Vehicles Tax Act,1958,has been amended to give legal sanctity to the new levy,an official said.All private vehicles on the road for more than 15 years and commercial vehicles that have been in business for eight years will have to opay the tax.
Over 25% of the 1.55 croreodd vehicles registered in the state are more than 15 years old,a transport department official said.Private vehicles owners will be required to pay tax once in five years,while commercial ones will be charged annually.
The implementation of the law,however,could run into hurdles.Both,Sharad Rao,president,Bombay Auto Union,and A L Quadros,secretary,Bombay Taximen Union,have threatened to challenge the levy in court..