Govt brings new vehicle policy
KATHMANDU:
The government has introduced a policy that has targeted to promote environment-friendly vehicles and increase the use of such vehicles to 20 per cent in the country by 2020. To start with, it plans operating clean vehicles in selected routes within Ring Road of the Kathmandu Valley.
So far, the government has registered around 1.8 million vehicles.
‘Environment Friendly Vehicles and Transport Policy 2014’ has focused on promoting the use of electric and other vehicles that run on solar power and gas. In a bid to produce green vehicles, the government in the policy has also encouraged
registration of industry for assembling clean vehicles and conversion of old fuel-run vehicles to electric.
After getting approval from the Cabinet, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) has directed the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) to do the needful to implement the policy. For long, environmentalists, electric vehicle operators and Nepal Automobile Dealers’ Association had been demanding that the government implement the green vehicle policy.
“We will hold discussions with stakeholders regarding the implementation of the policy,” said Kashi Raj Dahal, director general of DoTM. He added since many provisions mentioned in the policy are not applicable without changes in existing rules, necessary amendments will be made on transport related laws for effective implementation.
In the policy, the government has talked of encouraging operation of green vehicle for public and mass transport through private sector, cooperatives, build-operate-transfer or in build-operate-own-transfer models by giving tax waiver facilities. Those who want to operate clean vehicles for public service will also get support from the government to take loans from banks.
Similarly, the policy has mentioned providing incentives in income tax, customs duty, VAT, and excise duty for production, conversion of old vehicles and operation of green vehicles. The government, in initial phase, plans to operate environment-friendly public vehicles on some routes in Kathmandu Valley and gradually expand the practice outside the Valley.
For the pilot project, a total of 10 charging stations have been planned near the Ring Road. To promote use of green vehicles, the policy has stated of giving priority for procurement of environment-friendly vehicles by government agencies and converting other old state-owned vehicles.
In case of the Valley, a committee under the coordination of commissioner of the Kathmandu Valley Development Authority will also be formed to make green vehicle and transport system effective. Besides, the government will also promote operation of green public vehicles in locations with tourism, cultural and historic significance.
Earlier, even as the government had operated trolley bus with support from China, the service could not sustain due to management problems. Many Safa Tempos that are in operation are facing hard days because of lack of proper facility of charging stations and loadshedding. There are 2,200-plus environment-friendly vehicles in operation at present, including around 1,500 two-wheelers, 600 Safa Tempos and 100 four-wheelers. The policy said that a separate agency would be set up under MoPIT for registration of electric vehicles, their operation and regulation.
Fund to be set up
The green vehicle policy has said that the government will establish ‘Environment-Friendly Vehicle and Transport Development Fund’. Its resources will be utilised for research and development, human resources development, skill training and protection and promotion of domestic industry to be involved in manufacturing of environment-friendly vehicles.
According to the policy, the fund will have contribution from revenue being collected as pollution control tax, earning of carbon trade and additional support from the government, private sector, non-governmental organisations and foreign donors. After the establishment of the fund, the government will have to contribute one-third of pollution control tax, which is being collected at a rate of 50 paisa per litre on sales of petrol and diesel.
Source: THT
