07-11-2020

In a first, Union minister Nitin Gadkari will make a presentation before the Supreme Court after Diwali on ways to tackle air pollution. The minister is likely to share his view on alternative fuel, adoption of new technologies and cleaner fuel for all types of public transport before the SC judges.

It was revealed by the road transport and highways minister while speaking at an event on electric vehicles by industry body FICCI. He said he has been invited by the Chief Justice of India to make the presentation over two hours.

Gadkari is the first minister who has been �invited� by the apex court to share his views.

In February, a three-member bench comprising CJI, S A Bobde, Justice B R Gavai and Justice Surya Kant had observed that the minister could be invited to address the SC on the National Electric Mobility Plan 2020 and faster adoption and manufacturing of hybrid and electrical vehicles. The bench had also observed that Gadkari has many ideas, including that of providing electric buses for the apex court employees.

Gadkari had told in February that he would share his ideas before the Supreme Court on how to tackle vehicular pollution and make a gradual transition from fossil fuel-based vehicles to electric and hydrogen ones.

On Friday, the minister said air pollution across the country and particularly in Delhi-NCR has become a cause of big concern and there is a dire need to go for cleaner fuel and faster adoption of electric vehicles. He said in 2019, at least 30 lakh cars were registered in India indicating the increasing load of air pollution due to vehicles running on conventional fuel.

He said there is need for an integrated approach to find solutions to air pollution and more so considering that 23% of CO2 emission is due to transport and 18% of it comes from the road sector.

Gadkari suggested the EV manufacturers reduce the price of vehicles to attract more buyers. �For some time you have to reduce the cost. But the industry is not ready and hence they are not getting a good number of buyers. As a marketing strategy, you should reduce price because without reducing price, you can�t get numbers and without good numbers you can�t have economic viability,� the minister said.