- Despite collecting a total of Rs 777.69 crore through Environment Protection Charge (EPC) and Environmental Compensation, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has utilized only 20% of these funds.
- These funds were utilised for: R&D on air quality, health impact studies, infrastructure development for air and water quality surveillance, remediation of contaminated sites etc.
- CPCB receives compensation under two heads:
- Environment Protection Charge (EPC): The dealer/manufacturer is required to pay one per cent EPC for specified new diesel vehicles, registered only in Delhi and NCR.
- It is received as per order of Supreme Court.
- Environmental compensation is policy instrument for protection of environment which works on the Polluter Pay Principle.
- It is received as per orders of NGT.
- It is utilized to protect environment through strengthening of laboratories/monitoring network, projects in compliance of NGT orders, capacity building of pollution control boards, etc.
- Environment Protection Charge (EPC): The dealer/manufacturer is required to pay one per cent EPC for specified new diesel vehicles, registered only in Delhi and NCR.
- CPCB is Statutory Body formed under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
- Also, it is entrusted with powers and functions under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
- Functions under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change