Bengal subsidy scheme for battery-powered vehicles  ( June '20,2006, HBL)

The West Bengal Government has decided to provide subsidy to those buying battery-operated vehicles. The subsidy scheme is applicable for two-wheeler, three-wheeler, and four-wheeler vehicles.

Announcing this, Mr S.P. Gon Chaudhuri, Director of the West Bengal Renewable Development Agency, said that Rs 5,000 would be given for purchase of each two-wheeler, Rs 10,000 for four-wheelers, and 15,000 for three-wheelers for commercial use.

He said that the State Government was keen on popularising the use of vehicles operated by non-conventional energy.

New unit

Meanwhile, the Government has received a proposal for manufacturing battery-operated two-wheeler vehicles.

The unit is to be set up in Siliguri with the partnership of a Chinese company.

Mr Gon Chaudhuri said that he was doubtful about the implementation of the Centre's ambitious plan to provide electricity to all by the year 2010. Almost half a billion people in India do not have access to electricity. So, the obvious question was how far it was practicable to provide electricity to all by the year stipulated, he added.

Solar energy

According to him, the need of the hour was a national solar energy programme.

The country could also launch a nationwide programme to eradicate use of kerosene-based lanterns.

The use of such lanterns could be termed a disease in the sense that it not only pollutes millions of rural homes, it is harmful to millions of rural students.