[ACM]

source: TOI

Maharashtra Govt. cabinet decided to levy a green tax on private vehicles that are more that 15 years old and commercial vehicle hat have been plying for at least 8 years.

Implementation expected before EOY.

Rates: Pvt. Vehicles over 15 years old
Two wheelers 2,000
Petrol vehicles 3,000
Diesel vehicles 3,500

Tax to be paid every 5 years.

This will add to the cost of owning Classic and Vintage Cars.
Get rid of older non classic vechiles.

Rates: For commercial vehicles over 8 years old
Autorickshaws - 750
6 seater Taxis - 1250
Tourist Taxis & Light Good Vehicles: 2500
Vehicles with over 7500 kg capacity: 10% of yearly tax
Contract buses; 2.5% of yearly tax
Service vehciles: 2.5% of yearly tax
Tourist buses: 2.5% of yearly tax.

Would have liked a higher levy for the commercial vehicles so that we have only newer, safer, cleaner vechicles.

[pgsagar]

Another opportunity to extort money from motorists by a greedy state govt. Will soon be followed by other state govts. The outcome may help the environment indirectly, but the Govts. care a hoot about the environment. They just look for an excuse to fill the coffers. They put Sheriff of Nottingham to shame.

[Jack Sparrow]

I believe TN govt had this implemented 3-4 years before. I remember paying the green tax for my Dad's Vespa(Rs 500/-) when it underwent a FC after 15 years.

[prince_pervez]

Actually this is the least they can do. They can't be tough and ban all vehicles more than 15 years old, as that will attract bandhs, strikes and political game on a higher level. I can't really see why transporters will stop plying their old vehicles because of this law. OR How will the government help the environment by levying these taxes.
I hope they plant more trees with the money they get.

[ghodlur]

Does the govt even know how many vehicles plying on Indian roads which are 15 yrs or more. I bet there must be a good sizeable no of Govt vehicles which are 15 years old or more. So adding a Green tax is corrupt means of making money from those vehicle who even after completing more than 15 yrs will still continue to show they dont qualify for the Green tax by being hand in glove with the officials.

Leave apart spending the money recovered for planting trees, the officials must be planting money plants in their backyard with the money collected.
One straightforward solution, scrap all 15+ yr old vehicles - take a tough stand.

[MutantX]

If they scrap all 15+ year old vehicles all govt ambys would be gone. You can see all government officials and politicians plying on Mercs, BMWs, Audis and what not.

[ACM]

We can (rightly or wrongly) presume that Govt. vehicles in most categoies would be exempt from the green tax just like they are at toll naka's around India.

[ghodlur]

Originally Posted by MutantX

If they scrap all 15+ year old vehicles all govt ambys would be gone. You can see all government officials and politicians plying on Mercs, BMWs, Audis and what not.

On the other hand give every politician a Nano to drive on their own so that they too can experience "moon" on earth during monsoon esp.

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by ACM

source: TOI

Maharashtra Govt. cabinet decided to levy a green tax on private vehicles that are more that 15 years old and commercial vehicle hat have been plying for at least 8 years.

Implementation expected before EOY.

Rates: Pvt. Vehicles over 15 years old
Two wheelers 2,000
Petrol vehicles 3,000
Diesel vehicles 3,500

Tax to be paid every 5 years.

This will add to the cost of owning Classic and Vintage Cars.
Get rid of older non classic vechiles.

Rates: For commercial vehicles over 8 years old
Autorickshaws - 750
6 seater Taxis - 1250
Tourist Taxis & Light Good Vehicles: 2500
Vehicles with over 7500 kg capacity: 10% of yearly tax
Contract buses; 2.5% of yearly tax
Service vehciles: 2.5% of yearly tax
Tourist buses: 2.5% of yearly tax.

Would have liked a higher levy for the commercial vehicles so that we have only newer, safer, cleaner vechicles.

The government has issued a notification dated 15/10/2010 approving the levying of the Green Tax on older motor vehicles.
The taxes will be payable w.e.f. 30/10/2010 and are also applicable to Vintage and Classic motor vehicles. Older ambulances which are exempt from many other taxes fall within the ambit of the Green Tax.

The antidote is a PIL filed in the Nagpur Bench of the Mumbai High Court just a few days back seeking to quash the government notification.

The grounds on which relief has been sought include the facts that:-
(1) The notification was drafted in haste without inviting suggestions, objections and feedbacks from the public and in particular owners of such motor vehicles.
(2)The suit mentions that the notification is illogical and that the implementation of such a law to impose Green Tax is a Central Subject under the MV Act of 1988 and the State of Maharashtra has no jurisdiction. It has exceeded it by enforcing the notification.
(3)There is no mention about the old motor vehicles registered in other states that may be plying in or through the State of Maharashtra and which may cause pollution.
(4)It also states that the imposition of Green Tax is meant to fill the coffers of new motor vehicle manufacturers.
(5)The suit also claims that based on past records, as has been stated in the notification regarding the usage of the tax proceeds, the government has a track record of diverting the proceeds to other heads of budget and not to the ones detailed in the notification.
As the court is on vacation, the vacation judge has referred it to a regular bench for hearing.
A total of 21 lakh old motor vehicles in Maharashtra face the Green Tax axe as of now.

[anjan_c2007]

The petition at the High Court Nagpur Bench of the Mumabi High Court, has also stated that Government vehicles of all classes older than 15 years are exempted from paying the Green Tax which infringes on the fundamental right to equality. It states that most of the government vehicles are the biggest polluters.

[sgiitk]

I have no issues with taxing commercial vehicle. I suspect most private vehicles in this category will be doing under 5000km per annum (even less than 1000 in many cases) and many are owned by pensioners.

Presumably they all meet the PUC norms as well!

[abdriver2000]

Originally Posted by sgiitk

I have no issues with taxing commercial vehicle. I suspect most private vehicles in this category will be doing under 5000km per annum (even less than 1000 in many cases) and many are owned by pensioners.

Presumably they all meet the PUC norms as well!

Can't agree more with you. My 1985 Bajaj scooter completes 25 years and will be taxed 2000+

It's done less than 100kms in last 18 months, but starts with one kick after the customary bow. Stock engine and no smoke yet!

[shankar.balan]

give every politician nothing - dont give them official transport - let them bring their own vehicles.
else offer them all self drive auto rickshaws so that they can also experience the things the common man or "garib" experiences - considering they talk so much about Garibi hatao and all that stuff!

Look at our Karnataka CM - embroiled in the worst possible scams on the one hand and still striking deals on land for his family members on the other!

Originally Posted by ghodlur

On the other hand give every politician a Nano to drive on their own so that they too can experience "moon" on earth during monsoon esp.

[anjan_c2007]

There are two PIL's now filed at the Nagpur Bench of the Mumbai High Court. Both want the Green Tax notification by the Mah Govt to be quashed .
The court while refusing to pass any interim order after hearing the plaintiffs has served notices on the respondents and the two cases are to be jointly heard on 15/12/2010.

[Meer]

The modus operandi is simple - wring as much money as possible from the middle class. Upper class wont have such old vehicles and commercial vehicles won't pay this tax, it would be a boon for the Traffic thullas to extract more bribe from trucks etc.

A valid point brought up by everyone is regarding the government vehicles. My father was a govt officer and all the official vehicles he had were atleast 15 years old - Matadors, Ambys and Mahindra jeeps. Add to it, the quality of diesel was pathetic due to corruption fuelled adulteration. When these vehicles started you had to stand way out of the exhaust with their huge billow of black smoke.