PANAJI
In a move towards a clean and green environment, the State government is in the process of formulating a policy to enable swapping of any existing petrol-run two-wheeler with an e-bike at a subsidised cost.
Disclosing this, Power Minister Nilesh Cabral on Thursday said the government was in touch with Hero Motors, for procurement of 10,000 to 15,000 e-bikes in the coming year, which would be offered at subsidised rates to existing owners of petrol-based bikes, provided they scrap their old bikes.
He said the government is working on a subsidy package which would club together subsidies offered by State and the Centre as well as the vehicle dealer’s discount. The State is also contemplating switching government’s fleet of around 550 cars to e-vehicles.
This scheme aims to reduce 5,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year and remove 10 per cent of polluting vehicles off Goa’s roads.
“Goa is a destination for bikers. We have close to a million two-wheelers in Goa, comprising almost 70 per cent of the State’s vehicle population. These will be converted into electric two-wheelers or e-bikes by Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL)”, said Cabral.
Cabral also disclosed that Union Power Minister R K Singh has given a green signal for Goa to become a renewable energy hub. It is not going to happen overnight but we have already started the dream, he said.
