Uttarakhand Introduces ‘Green Cess’ On Out-Of-State Vehicles To Curb Air Pollution, Build Clean Infrastructure

Celebrating 25 years of its formation, the Uttarakhand government has announced the rollout of a “Green Cess” on vehicles entering the state from other parts of India — a move it calls a landmark step toward environmental protection, reported The Times Of India.

According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, the cess aims to fund projects focused on air pollution control, development of green infrastructure, and smart traffic management systems. The initiative seeks to establish Uttarakhand as a model for “Clean Air–Healthy Life.”

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “As Uttarakhand completes 25 years, our commitment is to make the state clean, green, and pollution-free. The revenue generated through the ‘Green Cess’ will be used to improve air quality, enhance green infrastructure, and strengthen smart traffic management.”

Parag Madhukar Dhakate, Member Secretary of the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board (UKPCB), cited the board’s findings showing that road dust accounts for 55 per cent of air pollution in Dehradun, followed by vehicular emissions at 7 per cent. He said the cess would help mitigate these sources and encourage the adoption of clean-vehicle policies.

The “Green Cess” is projected to generate around Rs 100 crore annually. The funds will be directed toward air-quality monitoring, road dust control, tree plantation, expansion of green zones, and smart traffic initiatives.

Electric, hydrogen, solar, and battery-operated vehicles will remain exempt from the cess. The government expects the measure to curb old, polluting vehicles, reduce air pollution, and improve Uttarakhand’s Air Quality Index, building on the state’s strong showing in the 2024 Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan, where Rishikesh and Dehradun ranked 14th and 19th, respectively.

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