By IANS,
Panchkula (Haryana) : India needs to focus on non-conventional energy sources to achieve self-reliance in the energy section, New and Renewable Energy Minister Vilas Muttemwar said here Saturday.
“Our dream of becoming a superpower can only be fulfilled by becoming self-reliant in the energy sector. For that we have to adopt solar energy and other renewable resources of energy as an essential alternative source of power,” Muttemwar said at the fifth edition of the national level Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas celebrations in this Haryana town, 10 km from Chandigarh.
“Solar energy would be the cheapest mode of power in the times to come. It also helps in tackling the threats of global warming and ecological imbalances. Our youth should come forward to spread the awareness about the importance of solar energy,” stated Muttemwar.
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda assured the minister the state would harness maximum renewable resources.
“We have signed 30 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with 10 independent power producers for the generation of 697.8 MW of power with an investment of Rs.32.78 billion (Rs.3,278 crores),” he said.
These 30 projects would be based on producing power from biomass, hydro and wind energy. The projects are under implementation and are likely to be commissioned by mid 2009, Hooda said.
The celebrations included a marathon in which around 4,000 athletes participated, a rally taken out by 15,000 schoolchildren to highlight energy issues, an exhibition of solar equipment and battery-operated vehicles and slogan writing and painting contests for schoolchildren.