Rather than using the pollution tax to generate revenue it should be spent on improving environmental conditions. It should be also seen as expenditure reduction exercise of pollution management through economic incentives and disincentives. We do not have green parties in India as yet, but green politics is very much there in its nascent stage. Those affected by poor environmental conditions may not have all converged under one banner, say of a green party. Yet, if people resent polluted water or demand sanitation facilities, clean fuels and clean air or refuse to part with trees then the green issues are very much alive.
Degraded environment hurts common man the most and they have most of the votes.
Green budget is needed to avoid environmental degradation as well as economic losses. 2000 Times Internet Limited. All rights reserved.