On World Env Day, renewable energy gets a boost

PANJIM: On World Environment Day a destroyed sand dune at Cavelossim was regenerated with the help of the local community, Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral said, as he launched a series of programmes on the theme of Ecosystem Restoration that aim at achieving various project-centric targets by 2030.

Addressing media persons on Saturday, Cabral said the State has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a Central government organisation, to facilitate the implementation of several renewable energy related projects including increasing the use of electric vehicles in Goa.

Cabral referred to the recent Sustainable Development Goals index by Niti Aayog that rated Goa as the best State in the use of clean and affordable energy. He, however, added that the same report shows that Goa consumes the highest amount of fossil fuels and that the State government wants to decrease this ratio. “The goal is to make Goa a zero carbon footprint State regarding use of fossil fuels in the next 8 to 10 years,” he added.

He said CESL will work as the link between the State, the Centre, the manufacturers in executing the entire subsidy related plans including its disbursal.

“CESL will bring in manufacturers of electrical vehicles, charging stations, lithium charging batteries etc to the State, give combined subsidy on purchase of electric vehicles, provide loans and also offer electric four-wheeler vehicles on lease,” Cabral said. 

While the State government will give a minimum of 20 per cent subsidy, he added that there is a subsidy from the Centre as well, a scrap-based subsidy amongst other incentives.

The goal is to help the State move to a clean energy system and that the idea is to work with the manufacturers to bring down the cost of electric vehicles in Goa, so that it is lower than the cost of petrol and diesel vehicles.

He cautioned that it will be easier for two-wheelers than four-wheelers where the subsidy for bikes can go up to 50 to 54 per cent.

Cabral also announced that there will be an extra 5 per cent subsidy for motorcycle pilots and that taxis and tourist buses can also hire such vehicles. 

The minister said that during the day discussed with local panchayats and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) about work to rejuvenate River Sal. There was also a plantation drive along the river in Nuvem, Benaulim, Orlim, Dramapur-Sirlim, Navelim, Chinchinim, Assolna,Velim and Ambelim.  

At the same time, he said the government had given assurances to the public about taking measures to restore bandhs across the State and he highlighted the importance and value of these century-old-bandhs in protecting the ecosystem. 

While all organisations under the Environment Department were part of the government initiatives, a webinar that saw attendance of 200-odd persons went over how an empty bauxite mine outside Goa was restored. Cabral added that the government will be using this ‘beautiful example’ and look at how it can restore dormant mines in Goa.

The government also launched a multi-processing centre of Goa State Biodiversity board at Talemata-Pale, Kothambi. Cabral added that here, the products found in the State and those worked on by local groups, especially self-help women groups, will be marketed and economic support will be given to such groups to help them earn a better living. He added that in the next four months, this project will move to its next phase.