Himachal govt to convert 3,000 petrol, diesel vehicles into EVs: Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh govt has set a target of converting 3,000 petrol and diesel vehicles into e-vehicles this year, said chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday.
Presiding over the All India Motor Transport Congress (National Truck and Bus Meet) at Gandhi Gram in Solan district, Sukhu said greenhouse gases were the main cause of pollution and 16%-20% of greenhouse gases were emitted from the transport sector. This situation is posing a serious threat to environmental health, he added. "The increasing number of petrol and diesel vehicles in the state are becoming a major cause of pollution," said the CM. Keeping this in mind, state govt has decided to increase the use of e-vehicles, and this measure is proving to be helpful in the protection and conservation of environmental resources besides minimising air pollution, said Sukhu.
As the high footfall of visitors also affects environment in hilly states, the state govt is strengthening tourism infrastructure with special attention on environmental protection and sustainable development, he remarked. He added state govt had set a target of making Himachal a green energy state by March 2026. The action plan that has been made to achieve this goal includes encouraging the use of electric vehicles as well as expanding the infrastructure for it.
Sukhu said the govt has launched the Rs 680-crore Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-up Yojana wherein a 50% subsidy is being provided on the purchase of e-taxis to youth. E-taxis have also been attached to various govt departments, corporations, boards, and other institutions. Under the e-taxi scheme, so far 50 e-taxis have been attached to govt departments, and 50 more e-taxis will be approved before May 10, he added.