PANAJI
Financial crunch has hit Goa’s plan to bolster adoption of electric vehicles, as close to 20 applicants, who had purchased the EVs, after August 2022, are awaiting their share of subsidy. Non-release of funds by the Finance Department has kept the applications pending with the Accounts Department for close to three months now.
In February, this year, the State government re-launched subsidy scheme to promote EVs in the State, wherein a subsidy between Rs 8,000 to upto Rs 1 lakh would be provided to the beneficiaries towards retrofitting benefits, scrapping and de-registration of old internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and for the purchase of new EVs. The financial assistance, to be provided on vehicles purchased from August 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024, however is restricted to 5,600 EVs.
According to sources, the Department of New and Renewable Energy (NRE) received close to 1,300 applications under the scheme, majority of which include of those applicants, who had purchased the vehicles after July 31, 2022- post discontinuation of the earlier notified subsidy scheme.
“In the first phase we are clearing old applications. Many of the beneficiaries got their share of payment somewhere in May-June; however, post that the applications sent to the Accounts Department are yet to be cleared as the Finance Department has not given green signal,” sources said.
A provision of Rs 25 crore was made in the State budget towards the scheme.
When contacted, Minister for NRE Ramakrishna alias Sudin Dhavalikar confirmed that the file is pending with the Finance Department and once it is cleared, the subsidies would be released.
Under the scheme, a two-wheeler is entitled for benefit of Rs 8,000 to upto Rs 15,000 towards retrofitting, scrapping and de-registration of ICE vehicles and for the purchase of new EVs. The three-wheeler will get benefits ranging from Rs 8,000 to upto Rs 60,000 while a four-wheeler can benefit of Rs 8,000 upto Rs 1 lakh.
As per the scheme, the beneficiary has to submit an online application within 90 days of notification of this scheme for EVs purchased prior to the issue of this notification, but on or after August 1, 2022 and in case of new purchases, the application has to be made within 120 days from the date of purchase.
