Goemkarponn desk
PORVORIM: Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai today alleged that the government department director has been taking a bribe to release EV subsidies to beneficiaries.
“Some government director is involved in taking a bribe to release EV subsidies. I have even heard that the concerned director has been taking subsidy cheques,’ said Sardesai.
Hearing this, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar assured to inquire about the matter and allegations.
Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar informed the house that under Electric Vehicle Scheme, Rs. 5,36,70,000 only was released as a subsidy.
“Setting up of EV Charging Station the Expression of Interest (EOI) was floated to 40 locations which are in process and proposed subsidy per charging station is Rs. 8,00,000,” he added.
Goa Forward Chief Vijai Sardesai further grilled Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Electric Vehicle Scheme.
He said the government had started the EV subsidy scheme in 2021 for 5 years with a budgetary allocation of Rs 20 cr, but the government stopped this scheme within one year.
Sardesai further questioned whether there is no money with BJP Government led by Pramod Sawant.
Goa government’s Department of New & Renewable Energy announced that it will no longer provide subsidies for electric cars (EVs) in the state from 31 July 2022.
Goa is now the nation’s first state to stop providing EV incentives. The government circular has yet to explain the reasons for this surprising step. Not too far back, a ruling party minister had advised car buyers to buy EVs.
Sardesai also raised the issue of rising cylinder prices in Zero Hour. He brought to notice the mention in Sankalp Patra by Chief Minister in regards to Scheme for subsidy on home cooking gas which was later scrapped.
