Environmental Taxes

 There is no proposal to levy environmental taxes to discourage pollution and boost green technology. However the Government levy cess under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 on the consumption of water by persons carrying on certain industries and by local authorities, with a view to augment the resources of the Central Pollution Control Board and the State Pollution Control Boards for prevention and control of water pollution. The Government allow 25% rebate to the industries on the amount of cess payable by them provided the industries consume water within the prescribed limits and comply with the provisions of section 25 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and also the environmental norms notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 by installing appropriate pollution treatment technologies. The countries such as USA, UK, Germany and Japan have adopted the system of taxation to control emission of hazardous gasses and also introduced upper limits for disposal of such gaseous emissions. This was stated by Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
(22-April 2013)
RM/RS- USQ4466 - LS
(Release ID :94847)