Electric mobility policy coming soon

PANJIM:  The Goa Electric Mobility Promotion Policy, 2021 for the adoption of electric vehicles and to cut down carbon emissions making the State greener will be approved and implemented soon.
New and Renewable Energy Director Aleixo F Da Costa said that the draft Goa Electric Mobility Promotion Policy was released in July this year and was kept open for suggestions and objections, if any till August 31. Four individuals and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Goa have sent suggestions, which will now be put up to the government, who will decide and then move to the Finance Department for approval of the policy and the incentives scheme for implementation.
Following a request by a NGO, the draft policy was translated in Konkani and Marathi but nobody submitted their suggestions or objections in local languages, he said.
Da Costa said that till date, three electric vehicle charging stations have been made functional at Patto-Panjim, Secretariat Porvorim and near Block Development Office (BDO), Mapusa. Another 25 charging stations will be erected across the State by October and 50 charging stations by December this year. These charging stations and equipments will come up at various places such as at fuel stations, roadsides, State highways, government buildings, bus depots, residential localities, residential buildings and domestic user facility (individual).    
The Goa Electric Mobility Promotion Policy, 2021 will be implemented for a period of five years and it can be extended if the government desires.
Da Costa said that once the policy is implemented, vehicle owners will have to scrap their fuel operated vehicle and he/she will not be allowed to sell the vehicle within the State. They can sell the vehicle outside the State if permitted by the latter.
The vehicle owner will be entitled for cash incentives while scrapping the vehicle and also at the time of purchasing the new electric vehicle so as to serve the purpose of clean environment.
The government also intends to convert 50 per cent of all ferryboats to electric by 2025 and encourage start-ups and investment in the field of electric mobility and associated sectors. It also hopes to create 10,000 direct and indirect jobs in the sector by 2025 and promote service units which would include electric vehicles and battery repair and maintenance stations.