Jodhpur, Jan. 14 -- The Central Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Rajasthan government to explain how it spent the green tax collected to curb vehicular pollution, amounting to Rs.2,009.66 crore, in the state. The bench raised concern over rising pollution from vehicles and sought details of the use of the environmental cess. The division bench, comprising judicial member Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, recently passed the order while hearing an original application filed by Babulal Jajoo and others. Counsel Lokendra Singh Kachhwa, appearing for the applicants, argued that vehicular pollution in Rajasthan significantly impacts public health by causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases like COPD, asthma and bronchitis, with disproportionate effects on children, the elderly and pregnant women. He said vehicular pollution also has serious environmental and atmospheric impacts, adding that vehicle emissions are a primary cause of declining air quality in cities such as Jaipur. He added that vehicle exhaust is one of the major sources of air pollution. The transport department, through a notification dated October 11, 2017, imposed a cess called green tax on different classes of vehicles. The sole purpose of imposing the green tax was to control air pollution. The ministry of road transport and highways issued draft guidelines for levying green tax on older vehicles by state and UT governments. "From 2015-16 to 2024-25, the Rajasthan government collected Rs.2,009.66 crore in green tax, according to information provided under the RTI Act. However, the authorities have not used this amount to control air pollution. On the contrary, major cities in Rajasthan continue to suffer from air pollution caused by vehicular emissions," said Kachhwa. The Tribunal noted that despite such a large sum being deposited in the state treasury, the government neither took effective measures nor followed the central guidelines. In some cases, it used the funds for other purposes and in others left them unspent, which the bench said went against both public interest and environmental protection. The NGT observed that the case raises a serious and important environmental issue that requires accountability. The Tribunal also directed the principal secretary of the environment department, the principal secretary of the urban development department and the principal chief conservator of forests to be made parties to the case. It ordered the formation of a joint committee comprising representatives of the state environment department, the transport commissioner's office, the Central Pollution Control Board and the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board. The committee will submit a report on the actual status and action taken to the Tribunal within six weeks. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 23....