central road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has advocated reducing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on hybrid vehicles in the country to make India a green economy. Along with this, he has resolved to make the country completely free from more than 36 crore petrol and diesel vehicles. When asked whether it is possible to make India completely free from petrol and diesel vehicles. The Union Road Transport and Highways Minister said, ‘100 percent.’ Gadkari said, ‘It is difficult, not impossible. This is my opinion.
16 lakh crore spent on fuel import
He said that India spends Rs 16 lakh crore on fuel imports. The minister said that this money will be used to improve the lives of farmers, villages will prosper and youth will get employment. Gadkari did not give any timeline for meeting this ambitious target, which even green energy supporters consider extremely difficult. The minister said that a proposal to reduce GST on hybrid vehicles to five percent and on flex engines to 12 percent has been sent to the Finance Ministry, which is considering it. He said he strongly believes that the country can eliminate fuel imports by promoting the use of biofuels. Environmental activists welcomed Gadkari’s vision to increase green transportation, but cautioned against the move to allow the use of fossil fuels in power generation.
Things will change in five to seven years
Greenpeace India campaigner Avinash Chanchal said, ‘In India we are still heavily dependent on the fossil fuel-based energy system to run electric vehicles. This needs to be changed. There is an urgent need to ensure 100 percent renewable energy along with electric vehicles to tackle the climate crisis. Gadkari said he has been advocating alternative fuels since 2004 and is confident that things will change in the coming five to seven years.
Share of electric vehicles is increasing rapidly
The minister said, ‘I cannot give you any date and year for this change because it is very difficult. It is difficult, not impossible. He said that he strongly believes that at the pace at which electric vehicles are being introduced, the coming era will be of alternative and bio-fuels and this dream will come true. Gadkari said automotive companies like Bajaj, TVS and Hero are also planning to make motorcycles using flex engines. Three-wheelers made with similar technology are also coming.
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