The number of diesel vehicles is decreasing
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Diesel vehicles: Addressing an event recently, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said that people need to stay away from petrol and diesel-powered vehicles (including diesel-powered generators). But if this does not happen, then a proposal can be made before the Finance Minister to impose a separate 10 percent GST on these vehicles as pollution tax.
However, shortly after this, Gadkari made it clear that “the government does not have any such proposal at present”, whereas the government is committed to reducing air pollution caused by fuels like diesel. Along with the increasing demand in the auto sector, it is also necessary to promote clean and green energy in place of polluting fuels.
After this statement of Gadkari, there was a decline in auto shares. Clarification was also given on the statement. But this was taken as a protest against diesel in the industry. The statement comes nearly three months after a committee appointed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas recommended a ban on diesel vehicles by 2027 for cities with a population of more than 10 lakh. The government charges 28 per cent tax on diesel cars and the engine If additional cess is also added on the basis of capacity, the total tax becomes around 50 percent.
Why oppose diesel?
The direct reason for this is Gadkari’s statement and the panel’s report. Which points towards the government’s objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and producing 40% of the country’s electricity as renewable energy. The aim of which is to achieve the target of zero emissions by 2070.
According to the official data of Hydrocarbon Sector and Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell, the share of diesel in the consumption of petroleum products in the country is about 40 percent. Of which about 87% is used in transportation. While about 68% of it is consumed by trucks and buses. About 40% of diesel is consumed in three states of the country (Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Haryana).