In a recent interaction with agencies, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa doubled down on the national capital’s latest electric vehicle policy. According to the draft EV policy 2.0, the GNCTD (Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi) looks to create 20,000 EV jobs, and possibly curb CNG autorickshaw registrations and permit renewals going forward.
Moreover, the policy draft accessed by agencies mentions setting up battery collection centres in a bid to further bolster the EV battery recycling/swapping ecosystem.
According to the minister, the latest EV policy is set to focus on more general public-oriented EVs—two-wheelers, buses, three-wheelers and goods carriers—with a bid to transition them to the electric vehicle ecosystem.
The new Delhi government has ambitious plans, Sirsa said, as it looks at 95 per cent of all new vehicle registrations by 2027 to be EVs. Among the first steps include the possible phasing out of CNG autorickshaws. The policy draft indicated that no CNG autorickshaws would be registered after August 15 this year, along with deferring at CNG rickshaw permit renewals.
A city-wide network of chargers and battery swapping stations is also planned, along with establishing upskilling centres for training an EV workforce. The GNCTD will also look to enrich the ‘State EV Fund’ and set up a dedicated Delhi Clean Mobility Centre.
UP leans into solar and clean energy
Not too far away, at Lucknow, the Uttar Pradesh government announced that it looks to train 10,000 ‘Paryavaran Sakhis’ as part of the State Rural Livelihood Mission to add more jobs to the solar energy sector.
In the previous fiscal year, the city saw the establishment of a solar manufacturing unit and the launch of 414 solar shops “directly benefiting 414 women entrepreneurs”, the Yogi Adityanath-led government said in a statement.
"Eighty solar-based food processing units, including dryers and defridges, were installed, and 60 women were trained as ‘Surya Sakhis’,” read the statement. The initiative looks to increase women’s participation in the technical and renewable energy sectors.
The UP government plans to appoint 57,702 ‘Surya Sakhis’—one per Gram Panchayat—to manage, maintain, and build awareness of solar products. Another 10,000 ‘Paryavaran Sakhis’ are to be trained to promote biogas and solar stoves.
