Shimla: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu of Himachal Pradesh has issued a directive to all government departments, urging them to abstain from purchasing diesel or petrol vehicles starting January 1, 2024, as part of the state's 'Green and Clean Himachal' initiative.
The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) disclosed, "The 'Green and Clean Himachal' initiative promotes e-vehicles on a large scale."
The directive outlines that departments will be allowed to procure petrol or diesel vehicles only after receiving approval from the state cabinet.
Aligned with the 'Vyavastha Parivartan' drive, Chief Minister Sukhu, in his inaugural budget speech, committed to safeguarding the state's lush green cover and introduced various measures to encourage the adoption of e-vehicles.
In a statement, the CMO said, "Due to the consistent efforts of the government, the number of government e-vehicles has reached 185, while that of private electric vehicles registered in the state is 2,733."
Setting an example himself, the Chief Minister has been using an e-vehicle for several months.
"The Transport Department has become the first department to replace its official vehicle fleet with e-vehicles and the other departments are to follow the same analogy," Sukhu asserted.
He further added, "All the departments will replace their fuel vehicles with e-vehicles in a phased manner. The use of e-vehicles is not only a new beginning but also shows the commitment of the government towards environmental preservation."
Highlighting the urgency of environmental conservation, the Chief Minister stressed, "We have to preserve the environment for the coming generations and take initiatives from today itself."
To address the vehicle needs of various departments, the government has sanctioned the operation of e-taxis under a contractual arrangement. The Rs 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme is offering a 50 per cent subsidy on e-taxi purchases, fostering youth participation.
Moreover, infrastructure for charging e-vehicles is being developed across 54 locations in the state by the Transport Department, facilitating both public stations and home charging.
"To promote e-vehicles, it has been decided to develop six highways as green corridors. Apart from this, all the diesel buses of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) are being converted into e-buses in a phased manner," stated the release.
Additionally, the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) is progressively transforming all diesel buses into e-buses.
In a recent meeting, e-bus manufacturers were urged to consider the state's unique geographical conditions while developing these vehicles.
Sukhu reiterated, "Long routes will soon witness e-buses of Type-1, 2, and 3 inducted into the HRTC fleet, aligning with the objective of making Himachal Pradesh an eco-friendly state by March 31, 2026."