In lieu of controling unmanageable pollution and related hazards, the West Bengal government after considering its full responsibility has though to utilise only EVs for adminitartive functioning. The state transport department said in a statement that they’ll be renting out only EVs for administrative purposes.
The related department has also drawn a rough estimate of the expenditure to be incurred. It is speculated that for the first 100 kms, the state government will chip in a monthly expenditure of around INR 46,000 in a way of rent to the private agents from where the EVs will be hired. After the completion of 100 kms, each km will be charged at a rate of INR 8
All this will be carefully applied, but when a case of emergency rise up, the administration will also be hiring diesel-driven and petrol-driven vehicles. But a foremost permission from the Finance Department will be required.
A Finance Department official commented, “Shifting to the new system will obviously involve extra cost and hence extra pressure on the state exchequer. But this necessary to prevent the rising air pollution from automobile fuel emission, especially that from the diesel-driven vehicles.”
Environmental activist have shown huge support in the state towards this decision as they’re claiming this step was the need of the hour. It is the right step towards right direction. Whereas, the unions of private transport owners feel that albeit it a welcome, they worry about the longevity of the success towards the decision of using only EVs without having an appropriate infrastructure for the same.
