New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is to collect environmental compensation fee from all its citizens. The move follows advice to the effect from the National Green Tribunal. The fee is being levied with effect from July 1.
NGT had in May advised the Delhi government, Delhi Jal Board and municipal corporations, Cantonment Board, utilities such as BSES and other civic authorities to levy environmental compensation fee from every household that generates sewage in the national capital.
Currently NDMC collects a fee under the head sewerage maintenance charge from households that are consumers of public water supply.
In accordance with the NGT directive, though, the quantum of environmental compensation fee would be fixed on the basis of property tax, water bill or electricity bill. The minimum fee would be Rs 100 per household. But it would increase in direct proportion to property tax or water bill, whichever is higher, The Times of India reports citing an official statement.
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For residents of unauthorised colonies and those not paying water bills the fee would be fixed in the range of Rs 100-500.
“And fee for households without public water supply connections of NDMC will be calculated on a formula based on sanctioned load of electricity. The fee would be up to Rs 100 for upto 2 kW, Rs 250 for up to 5 kW, Rs 500 for up to 10 kW and Rs 1,000 for more than 10 kW,” an NDMC statement says.
According to the NDMC, the fee would also be applicable to households that are receiving rebate in water charges or are being supplied free of charge.
Ajith Kumar S