New Delhi: In a bid to achieve the goal of a Green and Clean Himachal, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has issued a directive to all government departments not to purchase diesel or petrol vehicles from January 1, 2024. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) released a statement highlighting the "Green and Clean Himachal" initiative, which advocates for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (e-vehicles). Departments will only be allowed to procure petrol or diesel vehicles with the approval of the state cabinet if deemed necessary.

Pledging for Vyavastha Parivartan (Systemic Change), the Chief Minister has consistently emphasized the need to preserve the state's green cover. Various measures to promote e-vehicles in the state were announced during his first budget speech. The government's sustained efforts have resulted in the deployment of 185 government e-vehicles, while the state has registered 2,733 private electric vehicles, according to the release.

Setting an example, Chief Minister Sukhu has been using an e-vehicle for several months. The Transport Department has led the way by replacing its official vehicle fleet with e-vehicles, and other departments are expected to follow suit. The transition from fuel vehicles to e-vehicles will occur gradually across all departments, reflecting the government's commitment to environmental conservation.

To address the vehicle requirements of departments, the government has granted permission for e-taxis to operate on a contract basis. Under the Rs 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Self-Employment Start-up Scheme, e-taxi permits are being provided to youth with a 50 per cent subsidy on their purchase.

In a move to develop charging infrastructure, the government has finalized 54 locations for setting up e-vehicle charging stations across the state. Infrastructure development is in progress, and some stations are near completion. To further promote e-vehicles, six highways will be developed as green corridors.

Additionally, the government is converting all diesel buses of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) into e-buses in a phased manner. The initiative includes the inclusion of Type-1, 2, and 3 e-buses in the HRTC fleet for long routes. The state aims to achieve the target of becoming a clean and green energy state by March 31, 2026, reaffirmed Chief Minister Sukhu.

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