'Atomic power important for energy security'
Visakhapatnam,
Jan
3:
Justifying
his
support
for
the
successful
conclusion
of
the
Indo-US
civil
nuclear
energy
cooperation,
Prime
Minister
Manmohan
Singh
on
Thursday
said
that
the
atomic
power
could
play
a
significant
role
in
country's
energy
security
in
the
long
run.
Addressing
the
95th
Indian
Science
Congress
here,
Singh
said,
"In
the
longer
run,
atomic
energy
can
also
make
an
important
contribution
to
energy
security
for
our
country.
It is this perspective which has led us to seek the removal of restrictive regimes which prevent India from participation in international trade in civilian nuclear materials, equipment and technologies."
Singh, who said that the Climate Change poses a great challenge to country's developmental prospects and to the livelihood of poor people, called for the development of alternative renewable energy sources.
"We have to evolve a development path which reduces energy intensity of our economy over time and promotes simultaneously the use of energy efficient technologies such as clean coal technologies," he said, adding that he would like to see a concerted effort being made in the development of solar energy by country's scientific, technological and business communities.
Linking energy conservation with the promotion of mass public transport, which was one of the five areas where he sought scientific progress to be made, Singh said, "We need environment-friendly public transport solutions that are affordable by all. I regret to note that many of our roads in urban areas provide no space for pedestrians or bicycle riders. This must change."
Singh
said
that
the
country's
manufacturing
sector
is
not
yet
very
efficient
in
the
utilization
of
natural
resources,
especially
land
and
power
and
added
that
the
sustainable
development
requires
more
efficient
utilization
of
these
resources
by
modern
industry.
On
the
issue
of
building
technologies,
Singh
stressed
on
the
benefits
of
traditional
technologies,
which
he
said
were
largely
environment-friendly.
"Over the years a great deal of what is called modern building technology is environmentally ill-suited and unsustainable. This poses a technological challenge which must be squarely addressed," he said, and added, "We need locally relevant all-weather building technologies and construction technologies and methodologies that can reduce our growing dependence on air-conditioning."
ANI