'Tap non-conventional energy source to meet energy needs'

Sirsi, May 16 (UNI) North Kanara District Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry today urged the Centre and the State Government to tap non-conventional energy source in the offshore areas of the state to meet the present and future energy needs.

Talking to mediapersons here, Chamber Hon. Secretary V S Sonde said the gas hydrate programme of reprocessing of seismic data across western continental margin off Mangalore coast need to be seriously by the state government to claim a share of the source of energy explored in favour of the state to meet its present and future needs.

He said the state government should seriously consider participating in the exploration programme of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for availing positive share of the explored commodity for augmenting its energy deficits.

Citing Gujarat and other neighbouring states' efforts in tapping non-conventional energy sources, Dr Sonde said Gujarat had requested ONGC to allot gas fields around its area for the state government to explore.

Gujarat Chief Secretary H K Khan had recently stated that natural gas was a crucial source of energy available in the his state. All future projects depended on its availability. It was the cheapest, cleanest and the most reliable source of energy, he pointed out and called for a similar farsighted approach on the part of the Karnataka government at this juncture.

He said positive action on the part of the state government would surely pave the way for overcoming present maladies in the energy sector on one side and providing cleaner eco-friendly energy by tapping the offshore along the Karnataka Coast, thereby leading the state for successful developments on all fronts in the 21st century.

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