October 23, 2018, Lalitpur: Battery-powered electric public buses for Lumbini and National Action Plan for Electric Mobility were launched amid a formal program today. Chaired by Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Chairman of Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) Hon’ble Rabindra Adhikari, the launching program was held at the office of Sajha Yatayat, Lalitpur. Right Hon’ble Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Minister of Forest and Environment Hon’ble Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Minister of Finance Hon’ble Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada, Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Hon’ble Barshaman Pun, Former Speaker of House of Representatives Hon’ble Subash Chandra Nemwang, Ambassadors and representatives of different diplomatic missions, high ranking government officials, Nepali and Chinese media persons and general public were present in the occasion. 

The Chief Guest of the program Right Hon’ble Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli appreciated non-acidic battery powered electric vehicles produced by BYD company. He stated that such non-acidic battery would turn into soil at the disposal without harming natural quality of soil on one hand and on the other it would help safeguard environment by cutting down carbon emission caused by petroleum-powered engines. The Prime Minister told that Nepal was going to be self-sufficient in hydroelectricity in near future and therefore, there is a huge possibility of clean transport system in the country. Electric vehicles and transport system are the ultimate option in new world and with this event, Nepal has entered the era of clean transportation, he added. He further said, Nepal should either import electric vehicles or, manufacture electric vehicles in coming days to contribute to the environment and national economy. 

Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Chairman of Lumbini Development Trust Hon’ble Rabindra Adhikari said that the government was committed to run electricity powered clean transport system in all heritage sites to safeguard environment. “Gautam Buddha International Airport will be in operation within ten months and five electric buses and eleven jeeps will be operated by Sajha Yatayat in Lumbini, till then, launched electric vehicles will be tested in Kathmandu”, he said. Minister Adhikari further said, “Nepal Electricity Authority will build twenty hubs in different part of Nepal for charging electric vehicles.” 

The LDT Vice Chairman Ven. Metteyya Sakkaputta thanked the government of Nepal including Prime Minister KP Oli, Culture Minister Rabindra Adhikari and other related ministries for introducing electric clean transport in Lumbini, the world heritage property and birthplace of the Buddha. He also thanked Asian Development Bank (ADB) for granting electric vehicles for Lumbini and BYD for delivery of high-quality clean vehicles. He opined those clean vehicles would help improve air pollution of Lumbini area. He said that LDT was to implement global tender to complete 30 % of remaining work of Lumbini master plan sooner. Ven. Metteyya also expressed happiness to work in line with Prime Minister’s vision in Lumbini.   

Minister of Forest and Environment Hon’ble Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Chairman of Sajha Yatayat Madan Mani Dixit, Representatives of ADB and BYD and Officiating Ambassador of China had also put their remarks on the occasion.