The DND Expressway has become the hub of this illegal activity. (Photo: AajTak)

Corruption by officials posted at toll gates in Delhi and the National Capital Region is playing spoilsport with the Supreme Court's dream of achieving a Delhi that is relatively free from pollution. And this corruption is costing Delhi dearly.

An India Today TV investigation has exposed how the Supreme Court order on limiting truck entry into Delhi is going up in thick diesel smoke at the DND Expressway, Loni border and Gurgaon and in various parts of Delhi where corrupt toll operators, who are more concerned about lining their pockets than fighting pollution, allow both empty and loaded trucks a free run.

Just pay the amount set by the toll operator and the diesel fume-belching truck is free to enter or exit Delhi.

The SC had agreed to examine a suggestion to ban entry of all diesel trucks, except those carrying essential goods, into Delhi. The SC had agreed to examine a suggestion to ban entry of all diesel trucks, except those carrying essential goods, into Delhi.

Throwing its weight behind efforts to clean Delhi's air, the apex court in December 2015 had agreed to explore various options including banning registration of diesel SUVs and cars over 2000cc in the capital and the NCR and stopping trucks from passing through the city to curb pollution. The Supreme Court made strong remarks on the alarming pollution levels in Delhi and called for a multi-pronged approach to counter, what it said was an "embarrassing" situation.

Stepping into the raging debate on pollution, the SC had agreed to examine a suggestion to ban entry of all diesel trucks, except those carrying essential goods, into the capital while asking the Centre to come up with "common minimum acceptable programmers" on the issue after consulting all stakeholders.

The Supreme Court on October 10, 2015, had directed all toll operators to collect Rs 1,300 from every empty truck entering the capital and Rs 2,600 from every truck that is transporting material and also allowed them to collect Rs 450 as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) tax and Rs 120 as the toll fee but it fell on deaf ears.

The MCD has given the contract of levying the Green Tax to a Mumbai-based company SMYR consortium. The MCD has given the contract of levying the Green Tax to a Mumbai-based company SMYR consortium.

A sting operations conducted by India Today Television exposed how a toll booth on the DND Expressway - the flagship entry point from the Uttar Pradesh suburb of Noida into Delhi, has become the hub of this illegal activity.

In blatant violation of the law, a toll operator posted at the Expressway toll plaza pocketed Rs 800 and instead of cutting a receipt of Rs 1300 for the Green Tax, allowed our truck - which was hired to carry out the sting operation - to enter Delhi.

This tax, according to the Supreme Court, should have been handed over to the National Green Tribunal or the NGT, which is supposed to find ways of reducing Delhi's pollution.

After paying the MCD Tax and toll fee, our correspondents turned around and came back to the toll plaza to ask the operator why hadn't he charged the Supreme Court mandated Green Tax. As it turned out the shift at the toll plaza changes at 6 am and by the time we got back the toll operator who let us through was gone.

The MCD has given the contract of levying the Green Tax to a Mumbai-based company SMYR consortium. Ironically, the name of the toll plaza operator who let us through without charging the green tax was Vikram Singh aka Shaitan Singh. His mischief at the toll plaza is costing Delhi dear.

This was only the tip of the iceberg.

Loni is one of the busiest entry points into the Capital. Loni is one of the busiest entry points into the Capital.

Our next task to check whether the laxity at the Noida border was an exception or was the malaise widespread, gave us similar results.

The next night the India Today Special Investigation Team landed up at the Loni border which connects Ghaziabad in UP to Delhi. Loni is one of the busiest entry points into the Capital.

At 2 am, the toll operator pocketed Rs 1,000 and allowed us to go. Here, he should have charged our driver Rs 1,750. To our surprise, neither did he charge the MCD tax nor did he levy the Green Tax. The rate at the toll booth is fixed. Just pay Rs 1,000 and the toll operator will let you go.

The whole idea behind the Supreme Court guidelines was to deter trucks from entering Delhi in large numbers and to force them to take a roundabout, and thereby longer, route instead. But with toll operators blatantly violating the court's orders, the green cess is not acting as the deterrent it is meant to be.

The next day, we headed back to the Loni border and confronted the toll supervisor on why the rules were not being followed. At first, the toll operator denied any wrongdoing. But when we showed him the tape, he was forced to admit his folly.

The next night, the India Today investigation team headed to Gurgaon. This time, the truck was fully loaded and the tax was supposed to be Rs 3,050 (Rs 2,600 for the Green Tax + Rs 450 for the MCD tax).

In Gurgaon, the person in charge of the toll booth only levied the MCD tax and allowed us to go after pocketing his share of Rs 1,300. In Gurgaon, the person in charge of the toll booth only levied the MCD tax and allowed us to go after pocketing his share of Rs 1,300.

But instead of checking the truck, whether it was indeed empty or loaded, the toll operator agreed with our driver's conditions when he approached the operator. The person in charge of the toll booth only levied the MCD tax and allowed us to go after pocketing his share of Rs 1,300. He didn't even bother to charge Green Tax.

Contempt of court is a serious offence in India and is defined under Section 2 of the Contempt of Court Act of 1971. Those found guilty can be punished for a period of up to 6 months and may have to pay a fine as well. Now the highest court in the land has to decide whether the toll plaza operators exposed by India Today are guilty of contempt.

However, truck drivers told India Today that what our cameras captured over three days is not the exception, rather it seems to be the norm.

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