Ramesh suggested that the measure be instead extended to people in forest areas in the form of cooking gas rebate to help save the trees.
Environment minister Jairam Ramesh today took exception to diesel subsidy being "enjoyed" by mobile companies and owners of luxury vehicles and suggested that the measure be instead extended to people in forest areas in the form of cooking gas rebate to help save the trees.
"Diesel subsidy was meant to benefit the users in the agriculture sector. But today the diesel subsidy is being enjoyed by drivers of luxury vehicles and people like you and me - the users of mobile phone," the minister, who kicked up a controversy recently by stating that the use of diesel guzzling vehicles like SUVs on Indian roads was "criminal", said.
"We have 450000 mobile towers in our country, which are all run on diesel. Why that diesel should be subsidised," Ramesh told reporters here after releasing the UNEP "Green Economy and the Forest" report on the occasion of World Environment Day.
According to a recent study by an NGO, Greenpeace, diesel consumed by telecom companies for providing power at telecom towers is causing an estimated loss of Rs2,600 crore annually to the government in the form of subsidy.
Arguing for cooking gas subsidy for 172000 villages of the country which are in forest areas or in the periphery of forest areas, the Minister said the single most important measure the government can take to protect the forests in these areas is to provide subsidised cooking gas to these 172000 villages.
He said the people of the 172000 villages are dependent on forests for firewood and it is leading to a cycle of deforestation and causing health problem particulary among women due to the black carbon emission from firewood.
"So providing cooking gas is a little bit of... their subsidy would be socially very very desirable," the minister said and added that it as a targeted subsidy would fulfil a social purpose.
"So just one subsidy that I would argue is subsidy for cooking gas to this 172000 villages and save our forests," Ramesh said.
Earlier, chairing a seminar on Nature and Livelihood: Women's Perspective, the minister said he has given representation to prime minister as wells as petroleum minister, requesting them to take steps to provide cooking gas for the villages in and around the forest areas of the country.
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