The Hindu : National : Time for looking at alternatives to crude oil: Manmohan

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Saturday, Aug 21, 2004

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National

Time for looking at alternatives to crude oil: Manmohan

By Our Staff Reporter

— AP

A statue of Rajiv Gandhi unveiled by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI, AUG. 20 . The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, today unveiled a statue of the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, near Parliament and released a commemorative postage stamp on the occasion of the 60th birth anniversary. The day was also observed as Rajiv Gandhi Renewable Energy Day.

Speaking after releasing the stamp, Dr. Singh said that observing the anniversary as "Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas" was a good idea as it helped spread the message of renewable energy across the length and breadth of our country."

Pointing to the overdependence on fossil fuel and the rising oil prices, he said: "We are living in an age where energy is emerging as a major constraint on the pace of social and economic development and we have to think of new ways and means to grapple with the challenge of energy security."

In a global situation of constant flux, Dr. Singh said: "We cannot be excessively dependent on external sources alone for meeting our energy requirements. Therefore, diligent efforts have to be made to find viable substitutes in particular, for crude oil, as this will be probably the first natural resource to be exhausted on our planet. I believe the time has come when a shift may be required to focus more attentively on the alternatives to crude oil. In this connection, the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Resources needs to accelerate the development and deployment of new, frontier technologies like hydrogen and fuel cells."

Announcing that a host of energy services, including those for cooking, lighting and motive power, would be provided through several bio-energy technologies, including the hi-tech biomass gasification route and leafy biomass-based biogas technologies, Dr. Singh said the Government would also work to replace the use of diesel in agricultural pumpsets and tractors by promoting bio-fuels.

Rajiv statue unveiled

The Prime Minister also unveiled a statue of Rajiv Gandhi at the intersection of Sansad Marg and Talkatora Road, near Parliament.

At the function, the Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, was the chief guest; the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Somnath Chatterjee, presided over the event, and the Chairperson of the National Advisory Council, Sonia Gandhi, was the guest of honour.

The function was also attended by the Leader of the Opposition, L.K. Advani, the Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi, B.L. Joshi, and the Chief Minister of Delhi, Shiela Dixit, besides a number of Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament.

The statue depicts Rajiv Gandhi wearing a kurta and pyjama and tossing a garland, indicating his closeness to and excellent communication with the masses. The sculpture, made by Professor Latika Katt, has been cast in bronze with a petunia finish. It is 13.5-foot high and is placed over a pedestal of equal height.

Sadbhavana award

Later, Dr. Singh presented the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award to social activists, Swami Agnivesh and Madari Moideen, and exhorted the people to continue the late leader's fight against communalism and religious fundamentalism.

The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, used the opportunity to stress the need for compassion and sensitivity in politics. With Rajiv Gandhi not there, she said it was essential that "we concentrate on realising his dreams of creating a new India in the new millennium."

Earlier in the day, 12,000 schoolchildren formed a human chain around India Gate to celebrate the birth anniversary.

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