PANAJI
It’s another electricity duty in the making. Since February 5, 2014 the Government of Goa has been levying a 2 per cent ‘green’ cess on all non-biodegradable packaging items and despite having collected over ₹3 crore, has no records of how the money has been spent.
A reply given by Environment Minister to a question by Digambar Kamat, in the Budget session of the Assembly has revealed that the government collected ₹7.96-lakh in the first year 2013-14, ₹151.47 lakh the following year and 146.67 lakh during 2015-16 a total of ₹3.16 crore.
However to a question seeking details of how the money was spent or to which account head it was transferred, Arlekar said, “Such specific details are not available with the Department of Environment.”
The 2 per cent cess was imposed with a clear objective to be “utilised for implementation of solid waste management schemes including segregation, collection, safe disposal and re-cycling of non-biodegradable waste material and also to promote the sale and use of biodegradable packaging material, bags and containers.”
However, the cess, much like the electricity duty which is being imposed to improve electrical infrastructure in the State, is going to the common kitty of the government and isn’t being specifically spent for the purpose it is intended for.
The cess was introduced through the enactment of the Goa Cess on Products and Substances Causing Pollution (Green Cess) Act in 2013.
During the session, Power Minister Milind Naik said that the electricity department does not have any exclusive use of the money as it goes to the common kitty of the government.
The electricity department has collected more than ₹800 crore over the years through the levy of electricity duty. In another revelation, Environment Minister Rajendra Arlekar said that the Environmental and Energy Audit Bureau envisaged under Goa Cess on Products and Substances Causing Pollution (Green Cess) Act, 2013 along has not been constituted.
Arlekar said that at present there is no such proposal with the Department of Environment. However, the matter will be examined depending upon the need in future. The bureau was to identify sensitive areas of energy and environmental conservation and to recommend appropriate measures and solutions for reducing carbon footprint, and to suggest measures for deriving benefits under carbon credit trading and related matters in the State of Goa.
