Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said that the state government is trying to increase the sale of electric vehicles in the state so as to promote such vehicles in the state.

He also said that at present there is no incentive scheme from the state government to increase the sale of electric vehicles or to set up public charging points for such vehicles.

He was replying to a question asked by MLA Chaitanya Sharma during Question Hour in the Vidhan Sabha on Monday.

Agnihotri said that the Transport Department has selected 208 locations in the state to set up charging infrastructure for electric vehicles on highways.

The number of such charging points will be increased to 400, he said adding that the government is in the process of transferring more land to government departments to create an eco-system in the state for electric vehicles.

In response to the question of MLA Kewal Singh Pathania, Agnihotri said that a detailed project report of Rs 223.49 crore for medium irrigation scheme Sukha Haar by Jalshakti Mandal Jwali of four panchayats Harchakkiyan, Lapiana, Pargaud and Thehar under Shahpur assembly constituency has been prepared. These include 17 panchayats of Jwali assembly constituency and two panchayats of Dehra.

He said that it has been sent for approval in the meeting of the State Level Plan Approval Committee and after the approval of the committee, it will be sent to the Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India.

Responding to a question from MLA Vinod Kumar, the Deputy Chief Minister said that no new scheme is proposed to be made under Jal Jeevan Mission in Nachan assembly constituency, as schemes worth Rs 200 crore have already been approved in this constituency under Janjeevan Mission

On the question of BJP member DS Thakur, Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi informed that Jammu and Kashmir state has occupied more than 16 thousand bighas of land in Chamba district.

He said that after the matter came to the notice of the Himachal government, it has been taken up with the Jammu and Kashmir government to resolve it, however it is not showing any  interest.

In view of this, this matter will now be taken up with the Central government.