Uttarakhand Plans ‘Green Cess’ for Vehicles from Outside State, Pg7.

Key Highlights:

• The ‘Green Cess’ will apply to vehicles entering Uttarakhand from other states, primarily to tackle air pollution in tourist-heavy regions.
• Revenue from the cess will fund air pollution control, green infrastructure, and smart traffic management systems.
• Exemptions will apply to electric, hydrogen, solar, and battery-operated vehicles to promote clean mobility.
• The government estimates an annual revenue of ₹100 crore from the cess, earmarked for air quality monitoring, green zone creation, and sustainable traffic solutions.
• Uttarakhand witnesses a high tourist influx — 23 crore visitors in 3 years, significantly increasing vehicular emissions.
• The Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB) identified vehicles as the largest contributor to urban pollution (55%), followed by industrial emissions (7%).

Detailed Insights:

• Rationale: Rapid urbanization, increased tourism, and the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway project have escalated vehicular traffic, worsening air quality.
• Objective: Align with India’s larger environmental agenda by promoting eco-tourism, sustainable mobility, and air quality improvement measures.
• Implementation: Funds from the cess will be channeled into developing clean energy-based transport, reducing vehicular congestion, and upgrading pollution monitoring systems.
• Policy Significance: The move complements national initiatives such as the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and supports India’s Paris Agreement commitments.
• Expected Impact: Reduction in Air Quality Index (AQI) levels, promotion of non-fossil fuel vehicles, and improved tourism sustainability.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Green Cess: An environmental tax levied to fund pollution mitigation and promote sustainable infrastructure.
• Air Quality Index (AQI): A standardized indicator measuring air pollution levels across pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, NO₂, and O₃.
• Smart Traffic Management Systems: Use of IoT and AI-driven technologies to optimize traffic flow and reduce idle emissions.