NEW DELHI: President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Saturday called upon the scientific community to help the country attain energy independence by 2030 through greater use of solar power and other renewable energy sources as also hydropower, nuclear energy and bio-fuels.

Emphasising that India must graduate itself from fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal that would decrease naturally in few decades, he said there was a need to establish nuclear reactors based on Thorium. "Research and technology development of Thorium-based reactors is one of the immediate requirements for realising self-reliance in nuclear power generation and long-term energy independence of the nation."

Mr. Kalam said scientists and technologists also need to play a greater role in promoting the aeronautical sector considering that there was a large business potential in the wake of growing demand for aerospace systems across the world. There was a need to integrate the country's strengths in the civil and military aviation sectors. This would usher in an era of high technology and high skill industry environment resulting in generation of assets, wealth and employment opportunities.

"National Aeronautical Policy is being progressed now. I am sure that it will lead to the formation of (an) Aeronautical Commission. Design, development and production of 200-seater aircraft with multiple partnership will be an important mission of the Commission."

He was addressing through videoconference from here a conference organised by the Hyderabad-based Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory to facilitate V.S. Arunachalam, former Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

Paying rich tributes to Dr. Arunachalam, who was once his `boss', the President said he was a rare person, who combined visionary zeal, with a friendly attitude and a determination to achieve a goal even if it looked impossible to achieve. "When others were thinking of small projects, Dr. Arunachalam thought of big programmes for DRDO [Defence Research and Development Organisation]''.

Quotes Thirukkural

Dr. Arunachalam reminded one of the couplets in Thirukkural written by Thiruvalluvar: `vella thanaiya malarneettam, mandartham ulla thanaiyathu vuyarvu', which meant that whatever might be the depth of the river or lake or pond, whatever might be the condition of the water, the lily flower always comes out of the water and blossoms, Mr. Kalam said.

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