The Supreme Court sought the Centre's reply to a plea for levying an environment compensation charge on all existing private vehicles and new diesel cars to control pollution in the National Capital Region.

The application, filed by senior advocate Harish Salve, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae in adjudication of matters related to pollution, pleaded that a fee of 25 percent of the cost be levied on every new diesel vehicles which cause more pollution.

The application also sought levying a 2 percent fee on the cost of all existing petrol cars and 4 percent of the cost of all exisiting diesel cars, being used as private vehicles in the city.