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Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that country has come a long way since independence when only about 3000MW electricity was generated to reach about 1.27 lakh MW electricity generated today, however electricity has not reached every household. Speaking on the occasion of RAJIV GANDHI AKSHAY URJA DIWAS 2005 here today, Prime Minister said that more emphasis need to be laid on renewable sources of energy. As it has been proved that with use of biogas electricity could be provided to almost every village, he asked Shri Vilas Muttemwar, Minister of State (Independent charge) for Non-Conventional Energy Sources that it should be our objective that there is no village in the country without a community biogas plant. Micro-hydro projects in the hills and the use of bio-fuels should be encouraged. Dr. Singh underlined that Shri Rajiv Gandhi’s dream of developing villages would remain unfulfilled unless electricity reaches every household.
Smt Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, National Advisory Council, said that as world oil prices are sky-rocketing, the renewable energy sources assume importance which has been also stressed by the President in his Independence Day Speech. Besides other uses, she said that renewable energy offers a solution to one of our serious problems of urban waste, which can be used for generating electricity and thus lead to clean life. Smt Gandhi also administered a pledge to school children and others presenton the occassion to promote renewable energy.
Shri Vilas Muttemwar recalled the emphasis former Prime Minister Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi laid on harnessing technology for growth and development to meet needs of people in the 21st century. He informed that in India there a huge potential of producing 2-3 lakh MW power from non-conventional sources in coming 20-25 years. Underlining the need of utilizing these sources like solar, wind, bio-mass, he said that of the present need of about 2.5 lakh MW electricity, only about half is being met. Today government faces a challenge of providing electricity to nearly 56% households. He informed that his Ministry is working on providing grid quality electricity to 25,000 remote villages which cannot be connected with grid, by 2012 through the renewable energy (RE) sources. The Minister also said that Renewable Energy Clubs are being formed in 1300 engineering colleges and technical institutions with a grant of Rs 25,000 per annum by the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, which would help development of renewable energy technology and present this as a career option. District Advisory Committees (DACs) have been set up in 465 Districts for accelerating use of RE devices and removing obstacles in the way.
He stressed upon spreading awareness about the utility of renewable energy, which comes from perennial and clean sources. In this backdrop, Shri Muttemwar informed that more than 50 lakh school children all over the country are participating in rallies, human chain formations, essay; painting; quiz; debate competitions, etc, organized on occasion of Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas at State capitals and district headquarters to commemorate RAJIV GANDHI AKSHAY URJA DIWAS 2005 which began last year.
This year, the pragramme in the national capital was marked by a pledge to promote renewable energy by about 4000 school children from various Delhi schools. An exhibition of new and renewable devices was also organized at the venue- Talkatora Stadium. Hydrogen fueled two-wheeler, maruti car, battery operated Rewa car, Solar fan; radio; cooker, Biomass Gasifiers besides other devices developed by various manufacturers was on display for the benefit of school children and others. Participants in in exhibition include IREDA, BHU, BHEL, BEL, CEL, Tata-BP Solar, REIL, among others.
Rcj/akshay urja diwas059200805)
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