Cooperation instead of politics over pollution should be way forward : Javadekar

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Giving a fillip to electric-mobility in India, Union Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Novembr 1,2019, flagged off e-vehicles procured by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting at an event in New Delhi.

The Electric-vehicles are supplied by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of state-owned NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corporation and POWERGRID, under the Government of India. With this partnership, the Government of India continues to be an active participant in India’s quest for reduced emissions and vehicular electrification.

Speaking on the occasion, Javadekar stated the benefits of using e-vehicles, “E-cars are an attractive, sustainable and profitable solution to mitigate climate change and the risk of public health caused by vehicular emission.” Elaborating on the conscious efforts being made by the Government of India in enabling e-mobility in the country, the Minister said, “The Government is promoting e-mobility by taking a lead in changing the fleet of the existing petrol and diesel cars used for official purposes with electric cars. The current 5 lakh vehicles that are used by the government and its agencies across the country will be replaced by e-vehicles in a phased manner.”

It is expected that the positive outcome of replacing existing petrol and diesel cars by e-vehicles will be : Fuel savings of litres per annum (in million) : 832 and Reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) per annum (in million tonnes)  :2.23

Expressing his displeasure over recent politics and blame game over the issue of pollution in Delhi, the Minister stated ,“The Central Government has shown the way in making all five state governments sit together and find solutions to curbing air pollution.”  Javadekar appealed for synergy and cooperation in dealing with pollution and said it should be the way forward instead of resorting to politics and blame game, according to a PIB release.

Highlighting the role of Central Government towards the problem of air pollution in Delhi, the Minister said that earlier both Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways were only an issue of discussion, but the present Government implemented and built the expressways in five years and today around 60,000 vehicles have been diverted away from national capital, which has led to substantial reduction in pollution.

Expressing discontent over the inactive approach of Delhi Government, Javadekar said that around Rs 3,500 crore which were to be given by the state government for Eastern Peripheral Expressway and bypass road was not released and only after the Supreme Court intervened an amount of Rs 1,000 crore was sanctioned.

According to a report by NITI Aayog, India can reduce energy demand by 64% and carbon emissions by 37% with the help of connected, shared and electric passenger mobility across the country by 2030.

The cars on lease are intended to replace the present leased vehicles in various organizations and EESL will take 90% of the present lease rent that the organisations are paying to their vendors to provide e-vehicles, thereby saving the costs as well. The lease rental will be for 5-6 years during which the vehicles will be maintained by EESL.

EESL has completed procurement of 10,000 e-cars. These e-cars are being provided to Government entities on lease/outright purchase basis. Till date, 1,510 e-cars have been deployed/under registration. For charging e-cars, 300 AC & 170 DC chargers have also been commissioned. EESL has signed MoU with various PSUs, Government departments, Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana.

EESL has also started installation of Public Charging Stations from New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area to promote Electric vehicles. Till date, 65 nos.Public Charging Stations (PCS) complying with DC-001 (15kW) have been commissioned in the NDMC area.