The Hindu : New Delhi News : ‘Solar energy holds the key to power woes’

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Sunday, Aug 24, 2008
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New Delhi

‘Solar energy holds the key to power woes’

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: India is blessed with solar energy and if harnessed efficiently, the country is capable of producing around 5 trillion-kilowatts of electricity, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Vilas Muttemwar said while addressing the Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Divas 2008 here on Saturday.

The Minister in his special address at a function organised at Bal Bhawan said, “Akshay Urja began in 2004 with the agenda to address the national problem of energy crisis and we believe that the children present here today are going to play a key role to propagate this programme. India is blessed with solar energy and if harnessed efficiently, we are capable of producing around 5 trillion-kilowatts of electricity. I feel that Akshya Urja will help in the development of the nation and thank all the children across India who have participated in various competitions and have supported our campaign.”

The theme for this year’s Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Divas 2008 is “Akshay Urja Se DeshVikas, Gaon Gaon Bijli, Ghar Ghar Prakash”. The programme was organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) along with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit who also spoke on the occasion said, “Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas encourages our students present here to propagate the message of judicial use of electricity and promoting the use of renewable sources for leading a eco-friendly lifestyle.”

Future of human race

For his part R.K. Pachauri, Director-General TERI said, “The future of our country and the world is in children’s hands. Akshay Urja defines the future of human race for creating world’s future in energy. Due to the abundant solar energy available to us, India has a great potential in utilising renewable sources.”

Dr. Pachauri said solar energy is extremely beneficial as it is non-polluting and its generation can be decentralised. “We need to come together and take initiatives to create technologies for a greater use of these sources to combat climate change by reducing green house gases,” he said.

Series of activities

During the week-long celebrations, a series of activities were organised by TERI for school children from all over the National Capital Territory based on a common theme, “Akshay Urja Se Desh Vikas, Gaon Gaon Bijli, Ghar Ghar Prakash”. The inter-school competitions ranged from model making, slogan writing and banner painting. Skits and debate competitions were organised under the inter-college category.

A signature campaign to support promotion of use of renewable energy was also started on the occasion. The function, in which 2,500 students participated, concluded with a pledge that excessive consumption of energy derived from conventional sources would be avoided and the path of renewable energy would be followed.

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