TS TO LAUNCH E-VEHICLE POLICY SOON

The state government will shortly introduce an electronic vehicle policy, and Hyderabad will be declared a plastic fee city by 2022, minister K.T. Rama Rao said on Friday.

Mt Rao was speaking at a programme organised by the GHMC at People’s Plaza on Friday. Erik Solheim, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, was present on the occasion.

Mr Rao said that the electric vehicle policy would help reduce pollution and claimed that his government has launched many programmes for the restoration of ecological and environmental balance such as the Haritha Haram programme where more than 230 crore saplings are being planted over five years, which will enhance the green cover from 22 per cent to 23 per cent.

He said 46,000 lakes and tanks in the state are been protected, repaired and rejuvenated at a cost of `541 crore.

Hyderabad, he said will be plastic-free soon and the state too will be plastic free by 2022. The GHMC is using LED street lighting which has cut down costs by 47 per cent.

Mr. Soleheim began his address with a ‘Swachh Namaskaram’ and recalled Mahatma Gandhi and his slogan, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” and the Swachh Bharath Mission of Prime Minister.

He said there would be full support from the United Nations and UN Environment Programme for taking up various initiatives to reduce pollution.

He praised Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s vision and the efforts of Mr Rama Rao for taking up green cover in the entire state and also expressed satisfaction at the massive tree plantation in the entire state.

The steps for making public transport system more effective introducing electrical vehicles and replacing the old vehicles with new electrical vehicles and appealed the citizens to take up the moral responsibility to ban on plastic and usage of jute bags and pollution free materials to protect the environment in making the city pollution free.