The air in Delhi is among the most polluted in the world, with trucks contributing to 30 per cent of particulate matter.
Fed up with rising pollution and a failure by the police and other government agencies to prevent trucks from using Delhi roads as a shortcut, the National Green Tribunal today ordered all trucks entering the national capital to pay an environment cess, about an additional 40 per cent of the toll they currently pay while entering Delhi's borders.
The green panel ordered that the compensation would be payable at the rates of Rs 700 for two-axle vehicles, Rs 1,000 for three-axle and Rs 500 for four-axle and above.
The air in Delhi is among the most polluted in the world, with trucks contributing to 30 per cent of particulate matter, according to the Centre for Science and Environment.
"The Supreme Court had ordered stopping all non-Delhi destined trucks from entering the capital but that has not happened due to corruption," said Sunita Narain, the director general of the Centre for Science and Environment.
According to the Delhi Police, while 66000 trucks enter the capital every day, 20 per cent only use the roads to transit through the capital. The hope is that the added tax will encourage non-Delhi bound trucks from entering the capital.
The Supreme Court is also currently examining steps being taken to tackle Delhi's polluted air and is expected to take up the case on Thursday.