Led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday, the Odisha Cabinet passed and approved its EV policy aimed at increasing electric vehicle manufacture and adoption of pollution-free transportation.
“By 2025, the policy’s goal is to have 20% of all automotive registrations be electric vehicles, and to stimulate the production of such vehicles and their components, including batteries, in the state.” This also attempts to make invention, research, and development easier. Reduced traffic pollution and carbon emissions are now required. “It is past time to minimise emissions by reducing the use of fossil-fuel vehicles and speeding up the use of electric vehicles,” Chief Secretary SC Mahapatra remarked.
Several incentives will be available for enterprises to manufacture electric vehicles and for individuals to acquire them, including interest subvention on loans, waivers of road tax, and registration fees. Incentives under the MSME Department’s beginning strategy will also be extended to the manufacture of pollution-free automobiles.
According to the policy, a 15% subsidy will be offered for the purchase of electric bikes, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers, with a maximum amount of Rs 5,000, Rs 12,000, and Rs 1,00,000, respectively. The Odisha Sand Policy, 2021, was also approved by the Cabinet, which would ensure that the state’s sand mining is sustainable.
According to Mohapatra, the policy was formulated after analysing the demand-supply scenario, the identification of sources, the mining plan, the environment, and other legislative clearances. “It complies with environmental rules and ensures an appropriate supply of sand for development and welfare initiatives,” he explained. This will aid in preventing unlawful sand mining and ensuring a comprehensive monitoring mechanism through the use of IT-enabled rules.
The Cabinet also approved other recommendations ranging from social security and disability empowerment to water resources, trade, and transportation, as well as fisheries, revenue, and disaster management.
