Himachal: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the state government would bring an effective policy to develop electric charging stations for e-vehicles in the state. While presiding over a high-level meeting on Sunday evening at Shimla, he said that the policy would focus on various aspects including accessibility, convenience and opening employment avenues. He said that private operators would also be roped in with 50 percent subsidy for setting up e-charging stations.
The Chief Minister was also detailed about the e-charging stations already established and those which were currently being set up in the state. He said that the state was being developed as a Model State for Electric Vehicles. With the objective of reducing carbon emissions, electric vehicles are being encouraged with the collaboration of private and public sectors.
Apart from this, six green corridors were being developed in the first phase, he said and added that the length of these corridors, comprising National and State Highways is 2137 kms. The Chief Minister said that Himachal Road Transport Corporation was also adding more electric buses to its fleet in a phased manner and asked HRTC to identify routes for the operation of new electric buses.
He said that the dependence on fossil fuels would be substantially reduced by transforming public transport as electric transport.
Speaking on the land use for construction activities and developing infrastructure, he said that it should be made sure that the land was scientifically suitable for the construction works. Construction works should be started only after a scientific study of the land on the spot. In this process, the study of practical aspects is absolutely necessary, he added.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the physical status of the construction of solar power projects. He directed to speed up the process of transfer of land for the construction of these projects. He also directed to explore the possibility of setting up Green Ammonia and Bio Gas plants to promote green energy. He also asked to prepare a detailed project report by 31st October, 2023 for setting up the plant on a pilot basis. He said that green hydrogen was the source of clean energy for the future. He said that Hydropower projects of 1,000 MW capacity would be completed in the year 2023-24.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Anirudh Singh, Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister, Ram Subhag Singh, Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, Principal Secretaries Bharat Khera and RD Nazeem, Maneesh Grag, secretaries and senior officers attended the meeting.