PUNE:
Union minister for heavy industries Anant
Geete on Friday appeared to contradict his cabinet colleague, transport minister
Nitin Gadkari, on the latter's stance that we need to move towards alternative
fuel and curbing pollution at the earliest.
BJP's
Gadkari, speaking at an event organized by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers in September, had said: "We should move towards
alternative fuel ... I am going to do this, whether you like it or not. And I am not going to ask you. I will bulldoze it. For pollution, for imports, my ideas are crystal clear ... The government has a crystal-clear policy to reduce imports and curb pollution."
And on Friday, Geete, the lone
Shiv Sena member in the cabinet, without naming Gadkari, said, "We have to move forward in a phased manner. So, my ministry and I have not made any announcements. Announcements are being made by other ministers. Someone who is responsible (for e-vehicles) is not doing it, those not responsible are making announcements. It is a democracy, it is natural."
Gadkari's threat had raised the hackles of the auto industry, who had since pointed out multiple challenges, like import of lithium (batteries), quantity and quality of power, the source of power supply, and storage, among others. The industry has also raised concerns the investments going into developing the Bharat Stage-VI technology, which comes into effect on April 1, 2020.
"As ministers, we make many announcements because we want to set targets. And when we set targets, it is important to have deadlines, otherwise there is no point. However, if we are not successful till 2030, it doesn't mean that the industry is a failure. To make it successful, we have to take all stakeholders (into confidence)," Geete said at the valedictory address of International Transportation Electrification Conference in Pune
Geete further said there are multiple factors that need to be addressed, as the nation moves towards electric mobility and "there is no need to hurry through this ... We should not be making mistakes in haste".
He said that the industry and research organizations, like the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), must point the government and country in the right direction. "The government doesn't have the know-how or the expertise," the minister added.
ARAI said that it will submit a report to the ministry shortly.
Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari
