‘To reduce pollution, must move to electric vehicles’
Panaji : The first public electric vehicle (EV) charging unit in the state was commissioned by chief minister Pramod Sawant at the assembly complex in Porvorim on Thursday.
The 142 KW fast-charging station is the first among 12 public EV chargers to be set up. Sawant also flagged off two electric vehicles— a Hyundai Kona and Tata Tigor
Sawant said statistics have shown that with the rise in vehicles in the state there has been a rise in air pollution levels. “If pollution is to be reduced it is necessary to move to electric vehicles,” he said.
The Goa government has signed an agreement with Energy Efficiency Services Limited for deploying electric vehicles to government departments and developing infrastructure for charging electric vehicles where Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL) is the implementing agency, power minister Nilesh Cabral said
Chief secretary Parimal Rai said the government aims to have charging stations every few kilometres on highways and within city limits. “Goa’s policy has been to provide worldclass infrastructure and ecosystem for electric vehicles,” he said. Secretary power and new and renewable energy Kunal stated that the charging units will make charging electric vehicles hassle-free and convenient for consumers.
Adoption of electric vehicles for daily commute is essential for a wide range of goals including better air quality, enhanced security, transition to clean energy sources and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, Mahua Acharya, CEO and MD CESL said.
Source : timesofindia
