Kerala   

‘Robust energy sector essential for GDP growth’

KOCHI: Christy L. Fernandez, Secretary to the President of India, has said that the country needs to have a six-fold rise in energy growth. India needs to grow at 9-10 per cent for the next two decades to achieve the goal of poverty elimination. Growth in energy sector is required to facilitate GDP growth, he said. He was inaugurating a workshop on ‘Energy security and low carbon vistas – India’s options,’ organised by Association of British Scholars-India, British Council and the School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology.

The Indian industry needs to be more competitive and a major contributory factor is energy efficiency. There is considerable scope for greater energy efficiency in major industries as well as the small and medium enterprises sector. India can play a major role in developing alternative energy sources as a business proposition, he said.

In his keynote address on ‘Energy, society and the future,’ Michael Brett-Crowther, Editor-in-Chief of The International Journal of Environmental Studies, U.K., said energy resources could be considered essential to meeting basic needs. He said global warming should be a matter of utmost concern in the sub-continent.

On present predictions of energy, demand and patterns of urban living, cities cannot continue to grow exponentially. It is time for policy-makers and decision-makers to include ecology in economics. Otherwise, the decisions would be disastrous, he said.

Chris Gibson, Director, British Council, Chennai, also spoke. Jacob Chacko, president of ABS Kochi welcomed the gathering. Gopakumar M. Nair, vice-president of ABS, Kochi, proposed a vote of tha nks. Technical sessions on dif ferent topics were held later.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Kerala government to amend norms for timber auctions
Vessel sinks, six crew members escape
Working with an unusual medium
CInema
ENGAGEMENTS
Teacher gets a touching farewell
Bridge of woes
Memorable occasion
Colourful show
Nabi Day rally
CAMPUS NOTES
Facility in Dubai to assist expatriates
Two Keralites killed in accident
Congress man’s murder: one held
Daily flight to Delhi from today
Capital to host ‘Women in Energy’
‘Robust energy sector essential for GDP growth’
Concern over safety of tribal workers
Federal Bank stir
Emmanuval Silks to be opened today
State stands seventh in GER
Jotun to strengthen presence in State
‘Pepper 2008’ awards given away

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu