‘Emission tax’ on outdated vehicles in the offing

The government is considering introduction of "emission tax" on the old and outdated vehicles, which emit more carbon and release harmful particles to air.

A high-level committee of the government, formed to prepare a policy on the control of air pollution, at its meeting on Monday decided to incorporate a provision into the policy allowing "emission tax" on the old and outdated vehicles, reports BSS.

The meeting was held at the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry here on the draft air pollution control policy, a ministry press release said.

Chaired by Environment, Forest and Climate Change secretary Ziaul Hasan, the meeting decided to add a provision into the policy to conduct mobile courts against polluters, including brick kilns and vehicles, which emit smokes and cause harm to environment.

It also decided to include the issue of block use, instead of bricks, in the government tender schedule aiming to reduce the number of brick kilns.