Monday, 8 September 2014

Science and Technology this week: 24 Aug - 31 Aug 2014


Carbon control: Cess on all fossil fuel mooted
An expert group on 'Low carbon strategies for inclusive growth' headed by former Planning Commission member Kirit Parikh, has recommended that cess be levied on all fossil fuels, to enable a low carbon-dependent society. The report argues the need to levy a tax similar to coal cess and use it for development of energy-efficient ways to generate power.

The report, has been given to the Planning Commission. In Union Budget 2014, the government increased the coal cess from Rs 50 a tone to Rs 100 a tone. The group, which has experts from coal, power, oil & gas, renewable energy, environment and transport sectors, has compiled some key alternative low-carbon options, with an analysis of their cost-benefits and the enabling legislations required to operationalise the same.

The committee has suggested five policy instruments - energy pricing, carbon tax, cap & trade, subsidy, and regulation. Under these heads, the report has suggested measures such as market pricing of fuel, an appropriate structure for power sale, energy-efficiency standards, and purchase obligation on customers for demand-side management.

This recommendation is in line with the suggestions made by the Vijay Kelkar committee looking into gas pricing, advocating market-determined pricing, with rates being fixed at the highest possible level.


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