PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Bharatiya Janata Party Rjya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal said that green cess is necessary and justified as Uttarakhand has been providing clean and pure air to the world since old times. He stated that 71 per cent of the State’s area is under forest cover, which delays and halts several development works due to environmental regulations. The Uttarakhand government recently announced the implementation of a green cess on vehicles entering the State from other states. The government expects to generate around Rs 100 crore each year through this collection. The revenue will support air quality monitoring, control of road dust, expansion of green areas and development of smart traffic management systems as per the officials. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had also stated that the decision aligns with the State’s focus on air quality improvement as Uttarakhand completes 25 years of formation. The government plans to use the funds to support clean transportation policies and regulate older vehicles. The government believes that the green cess will address these factors. Electric, hydrogen, solar and battery-operated vehicles will be exempt. According to the Clean Air Survey 2024, Rishikesh ranked 14th and Dehradun 19th nationwide for air quality performance. The government aims to improve these results with the help of the green cess revenue. Bansal said that environmental measures should continue, while development challenges due to forest cover must be acknowledged. He supported the State’s move to balance progress and environmental responsibility.
