NAGPUR: The state government on Thursday asked the tiger reserves to promote electric vehicles for safari in parks. Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) is the only park using one such vehicle. The government has said that in years to come, electric vehicles will create a revolution to shed dependence on fuel and will also support environment by
reducing carbon emissions
The United Nations Organization (UNO) also plans to promote electric vehicles on a large-scale by 2030. Taking cue from this, the government of India too has vowed to convert the country into ‘electric vehicle nation’. The government launched the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 in 2013. It aims to national fuel security by promoting hybrid and electric vehicles in the country.
here is an ambitious target to achieve 6-7 million sales of hybrid and electric vehicles from 2020 and reduce carbon emissions by 40 lakh tonne. The state too has launched Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Promotion Policy-2018.
Accordingly, all the tiger reserves been told to promote RTO-registered electric vehicles for safari in parks. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) too on October 15, 2012 had issued guidelines in this regard.
The state has asked officials to register such electric vehicles in parks where less number of gypsies have been registered than the park’s carrying capacity. “Preference should be given to locals who have been relocated from the tiger reserves,” says the circular.
The park managers have also been told to consider giving 50% concession in entry fee to such vehicles over traditional gypsies. According to TATR field director NR Praveen,in Tadoba, one electric vehicle donated by a resort owner in Kolara to Bamangaon eco-developmentcommittee (EDC) in operation.
During trials in Tadoba in September, it was found that even after running for 4 hours in forest, 20% battery was still in balance. It also as a reserve capacity and when the vehicle reaches reserve stage it has to be charged for eight hours or else the battery gets recharged in three hours.
The vehicle is similar like gypsy and can comfortably accommodate six persons. However, officials said the flip side is that department won’t procure the vehicle as a customized electric vehicle costs Rs14 lakh.
Read Also : 92% of land acquisition complete for Samruddhi Mahamarg
){kind=link}