Govt plans tax on polluting construction sites to tackle dust particles crisis

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2020
|

Construction sites that produce too much dust will now face a tax as the government tries to tackle the dust particles crisis, the Minister of Finance Uttama Savanayana said.

Patchara Anuntasilpa, director-general of the Excise Department, said that the department is working on this matter, especially a carbon tax that the government can charge from owners of motorcycles. The aim is to encourage entrepreneurs to invest more in electric vehicles.
Moreover, the diesel excise tax structure is going to be reformed by expanding the range of diesel types from two to six. The measure will be a long-term solution, he said.
Regarding the manufacture of electric vehicles, the government is planning to make a model scheme for it to enhance investment within three years so that the private sector can see a clear picture of the future plan and move forward with the public.
The Excise Department will soon propose to the Minister of Finance an act for an electric vehicles fund to manage battery waste disposal.
Under the new act, owners of electric vehicles have to pay a deposit for battery disposal at Bt1,000 per unit to help the fund and they will get all the money back after returning batteries for disposal to car companies.