Pawar stresses need for tapping non-conventional energy sources

Mumbai, July 17 (UNI) Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today stressed the need to exploit non-conventional energy sources in order to tide over the present power shortfall.

He was speaking after launching ''Urjankur Nidhi'', a fund intended to encourage the promotion of non-conventional energy sources like solar and wind and power from bagasse. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was also present on the occasion.

Mr Pawar pointed out that the State would have to expend a whopping Rs 20,000 crore to meet the present 4000 MW shortfall in electricity. Under such circumstances, it would be prudent to tap the non-conventional energy sources and accord due importance to cogeneration.

The country, he said, has the potential to produce 5000 MW of power through cogeneration. Around 1100 MW of power is already being co-generated in the country with Maharashtra's share being 32 MW.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, speaking on the occasion, urged the sugar factories to take the benefit of this new scheme which will help the factories as well as farmers in strengthening their financial position.

The Urjankur Trust, which has been created under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 and registered under SEBI, envisages a public-private participation in the power sector.

Maharashtra Minister for Non-Conventional Energy Vinay Kore, who is the chairman of the Urjankur Trust, hoped it would help the state come out of power shortage problem.

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