National:
Experts come together at EMobility Summit to discuss green commuting
Govt’s commitment can be gauged from the fact that it has lowered the GST on EVs: Gadkari; India’s ambitious target to shift to electric vehicles is a bumpy road ahead, say experts; Global leaders from the sector worry that regime change will also lead to an altered policy
Keeping with its tradition to keep pace with ideas that will shape the future, Zee Media’s WION channel organised EMobility Summit at New Delhi’s Taj Mansingh hotel on Tuesday to look at the viability of green commuting and the roadblocks and challenges it faces.
Apart from having Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, Nitin Gadkari, as chief guest to speak on the broad policy issues and roadmap for Electric Vehicles, the EMobility Summit had panned out the discussions in four sessions to have a holistic view of the industry with a diverse flavour of panelists from the industry as well as experts from the field of environment.
In his inaugural address, Gadkari said, the government is neither for restricting nor opposing any type of vehicle but is only supporting the EVs and wants to leave the industry for an open competition. Flagging the need to curb pollution to help mitigate climate change, Gadkari said, his government is adopting an integrated approach to solve India’s pollution conundrum. “We are installing a technical testing institute in Pune, we will start accepting on the basis of different part of the world practices around, Gadkari said, adding, “we are also taking the help of IIT’s as well. Niti Aayog also has made up a group on the same. You saw what happened with mobile phones and TVs.” The minister asserted that he sees a huge possibility in developing India into manufacturing hub of EVs for which his department has prepared a policy and is looking forward to getting it cleared and approved by the Union cabinet. The auto industry is currently going through some problems due to demand and supply and in the global economic and business cycle. But we need to modernise industry and we are all supporting innovation and to make it happen supporting industry and new research, emphasised Gadkari.
“We are looking for every possible option, whether it is converting to CNG or using biodiesel that can be a saving for the economy and create jobs for tribals. Nothing is mandatory,” said Gadkari asserting that India frog jumped from BS-IV to BS-VI to take care of pollution and health concerns as the government is committed to clean India and successfully implementing it.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari being welcomed by Editor-in-chief of WION Sudhir ChaudharyUnion minister Nitin Gadkari being welcomed by Editor-in-chief of WION Sudhir Chaudhary