Assam legislator backs EV use, says reducing fuel imports vital for economy
Guwahati, May 22
Assam Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Rajdeep Goala has stressed the importance of adopting electric vehicles, saying the move was necessary not only for environmental protection but also for safeguarding the country's foreign exchange reserves.
Speaking to reporters at the Assam Legislative Assembly premises on Thursday, the legislator from the Udharbond Assembly constituency, said he had arrived at the state Assembly in an electric vehicle and had also used the same vehicle extensively during the recent election campaign.
Goala added that the EV belonged to his brother, Jaydeep Bala, and said that he had been using electric vehicles even before the recent public appeal made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma encouraging fuel conservation and greater adoption of sustainable transport.
"This is not something new for me. I had already been using an electric vehicle earlier and even used it during election campaigning. Today also I came to the Assembly in the same vehicle," the BJP MLA said.
He added that the state government has been encouraging fuel conservation measures and greater awareness regarding fuel consumption in view of the global economic situation.
According to the BJP MLA, India spends a significant amount of foreign exchange on importing petroleum products and greater use of EVs can help reduce that burden.
"There is a global economic concern attached to petroleum imports. We need to understand the present global situation and act responsibly. If we can reduce fuel imports, it will help save foreign reserves and benefit the country's economy," he said.
Goala also appealed to the people to contribute according to their capacity by adopting environmentally sustainable practices wherever possible.
When asked about speculation regarding his possible induction into the state Cabinet, the MLA added that he was not part of any such race and was presently focused only on serving the people of his Assembly constituency.
"The people have blessed me with the responsibility to work for them. My priority for the next five years is to serve my constituency sincerely," he said.
Goala added that any future responsibility assigned by the party leadership would be carried out with dedication and discipline.
— IANS
Reader Comments
All well and good, but the ground reality is different. EV charging infrastructure in Assam is still very poor. What about the long distances between towns? Plus, electricity in Assam is not always reliable. The idea is nice, but implementation needs serious work.
Reducing fuel imports is indeed critical for India's economic security. At current prices, every barrel saved matters. However, we need to remember that EV batteries also require rare earth minerals which we import. A balanced approach with hybrids and public transport would be more practical for Assam's terrain. 🚗
This is exactly the kind of leadership we need. Not empty promises but personal action. Using an EV for election campaigning is smart too - shows people it's practical. Hope other MLAs also follow suit instead of wasting fuel in their convoys. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
Good intentions, but let's be real - an MLA can afford an EV, but what about the common man in Udharbond? EVs are still too expensive. The government should first make them affordable and set up charging stations across all constituencies before giving these sermons. 😐
Smart move! Using the brother's EV shows it's a family commitment. The PM and CM are right about fuel conservation. Even if 10% of Assam's vehicles go electric, that's a big saving in foreign exchange. Plus, our air quality in Guwahati will improve. Win-win! 🌿
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