NGT orders Delhi households to pay compensation for a cleaner Yamuna

May,8,2015: The compensation to be paid would be directly proportional to the property or water tax, whichever is higher, paid by a particular household.

For a cleaner River Yamuna, the National Green Tribunal lately announced that every household in Delhi will have to pay environmental compensation every month.

The compensation to be paid would be directly proportional to the property or water tax, whichever is higher, paid by a particular household.

In case of households in unauthorised colonies which do not pay property tax or water bill, the amount would be Rs. 100 to Rs. 500.

“We direct NCT of Delhi, Delhi Jal Board and all Municipal Corporations, Cantonment Board, electricity companies like BSES and all other civic authorities to require payment of environmental compensation from every house hold which is generating sewage in the entire NCT of Delhi on the Polluters Pay Principle. It will be irrespective of whether a house hold is sewered or not. This would be equally applicable to the house hold located in the unauthorized colonies,” said a bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar.

The payment of the ‘environmental compensation’ would be added to electricity bills, water bill and the property tax demand in order of preference by the respective departments which will transfer the money to NCT, Delhi.