Environment Protection Charge:
According to a CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) report submitted to the National Green Tribunal, a significant portion of the Environment Protection Charge (EPC) and Environmental Compensation (EC) collected by the CPCB remains unspent.
- Environment Protection Charge is a fund used by the Central Board of Pollution Control (CPCB) to provide scientific inputs for improving air quality in Delhi NCR.
- The CPCB works with other institutions like IIT and NEERI under the EPC fund.
- The EPC is received as per an order of the Supreme Court (M.C. Mehta Vs Union of India Case, 1985), and for air quality improvement and related work in Delhi-NCR such as research and development activities and vehicular pollution control health impact studies and specific projects to control pollution in Delhi-NCR and Punjab.
- The CPCB also receives 25% of the environmental compensation collected by state pollution control boards.
- It also collects environmental penalties directly from polluters/defaulters in various matters.
