Principal Secretary (Energy) K Jairaj on Friday said the Government wants to collect Rs 50 to 60 crore a year in the form of green cess to augment funds to promote renewable energy. The State government had not been providing funds for promoting renewable energy.

The Maharashtra government had already introduced the cess. In Maharashtra five paise per unit is collected as the cess.

The KERC had rejected the State government’s proposal earlier stating that the Government should take a policy decision.

The Government in its Renewable Energy Policy introduced the green cess. Jairaj said the Government would appeal to the KERC once again. However, it is yet to work on the the extent of the cess to be levied.