Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], October 27 : On the occasion of Uttarakhand completing 25 years of its formation, the state government has announced the implementation of a "Green Cess" -- a historic step toward environmental conservation. This cess will be levied on vehicles entering the state from other parts of the country, the Chief Minister's Office said in a press release.
The revenue collected will be utilised for air pollution control, green infrastructure development, and smart traffic management systems. According to the state government, this initiative will mark a new milestone in making Uttarakhand synonymous with "Clean Air - Healthy Life."
CM Dhami stated, "As Uttarakhand completes 25 years, our commitment is to make the state clean, green, and pollution-free. The revenue generated through the 'Green Cess' will be used to improve air quality, enhance green infrastructure, and strengthen smart traffic management."
Dr Parag Madhukar Dhakate, Member Secretary of the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB), informed that as per the board's study, the major source of air pollution in Dehradun is road dust (55 per cent), followed by vehicular emissions (7 per cent). Through the Green Cess, the government aims to control road dust and promote clean vehicle policies -- steps expected to significantly improve urban air quality.
Notably, Uttarakhand cities have performed impressively in the "Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan - 2024" conducted by the Government of India, with Rishikesh ranked 14th and Dehradun 19th among the cleanest air cities. The state government plans to further strengthen these achievements by leveraging revenue from the Green Cess.
Implementation of the Green Cess is expected to reduce air pollution, improve the Air Quality Index (AQI), curb the use of old, polluting vehicles, promote clean-fuel-based vehicles, and support initiatives such as road dust management, tree planting, and air quality monitoring networks.
The cess will be charged from vehicles entering Uttarakhand from other states; however, electric, hydrogen, solar, and battery-operated vehicles will be exempted. The initiative is expected to generate an estimated annual revenue of Rs 100 crore, which will be invested in air monitoring, road dust control, expansion of green zones, and smart traffic systems.