Apex Court appoints Harish Salve as mediator in SDMC-contractor tiff

In order to reach break-even point over the ongoing tussle between SDMC and the contractor over toll tax collection amount, the Supreme Court has appointed senior lawyer Harish Salve as the mediator in the issue. 

According to the SC order, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Delhi government, SDMC and toll tax collecting agency will all have to be present in order to reach a decision.

The Supreme Court last week ordered a 100 per cent increase of the Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) on light and heavy trucks using Delhi roads. 

While the light duty vehicles will now have to pay Rs 1400, heavy duty vehicles will be charged Rs 2600. The South Corporation said that the increased prices will invariably bring down the number of commercial vehicles entering the Capital which will in turn hamper the toll tax collection.

The tussle between the contractor and SDMC began as he paid 30 per cent reduced amount to SDMC. Till now the SDMC used to get Rs 11 crore per week from toll tax collection but this time, after imposition of green tax, the contractor submitted Rs 7.30 crore.

Meanwhile, the Corporation also took a firm stance against SMYR consortium last week which is authorised to collect the taxes on SDMC’s behalf. They en-cashed the bank guarantee for two months as the contractor deducted the share from toll tax collection after the green tax was imposed.