Refusing to allow charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) in paid parking lots has brought the civic body in direct confrontation with the UT administration.
The general house of the municipal corporation (MC) on Tuesday rejected the agenda item, prompting the UT administration to involve Punjab governor and UT administrator Banwarilal Purohit.
UT adviser Dharam Pal said he would explain the situation as well as importance of the charging stations to Purohit while seeking his nod, which, if it comes, will leave the MC with no option but to back down.
On Tuesday, when the agenda was placed before members for a discussion, mayor Anup Gupta argued that as the EV Policy had not come to the MC house, this agenda should not be passed. A few other members too reminded that policies earlier used to be discussed in the MC house for suggestions of public representatives. The agenda was then rejected. However, the mayor has been a part of meetings on setting up of infrastructure for EVs held by the administration.
The Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science and Technology Promotion Society (Crest) had sent the proposal of charging stations to the MC, which in turn had demanded income from it be shared on 50:50 basis. The Crest had demanded 32 parking sites for the charging stations with 183 charging guns.
