Maharashtra cabinet today approved levying a 'green tax' on commercial vehicles that are more than eight years old and on non-commercial or private vehicles that are 15 years old.According to the press release issued after the meeting, the move is aimed at discouraging use of older vehicles and reduce pollution. A tax bill will be introduced in the next session of legislature in this regard.The tax will be similar to the green tax levied on vehicles by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. There are over a crore registered vehicles in the Maharashtra, of which 80 per cent are two-wheelers.The state Government has also decided to increase fine on rash driving, three times to curb violations of traffic norms. The fine has increased from Rs 100 to Rs.300.In another important decision taken today Maharashtra Government approved the scheme of sustainable village development in order to preserve environmental balance. An official said that the environmental and social development is expected under the scheme with participation of local people. Under the scheme, rural areas would have a development plan like cities to avoid haphazard constructions in future. There are over around 40,000 villages in the state.