The Government of India has doubled the rate of Clean Energy Cess in Budget 2016-17.
The effective rate of Clean Energy Cess (now renamed as Clean Environment Cess) levied on coal, lignite and peat was increased from Rs.200 per tonne to Rs.400 per tonne in Budget 2016-17 with effect from 01.03.2016, for financing and promoting clean environment or clean energy initiatives and funding research in the area of clean environment or clean energy. Clean Environment Cess also acts as green tax, on the lines of polluter pays principle.
Government has no such proposal under consideration at present to lower down the cost for aforesaid purposes
This was stated by Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
