Centre to raise energy contribution needs of nation: Minister

Hyderabad, Aug 18 (UNI) Union Minister for 'New and Renewable Energy Vilas Muttemwar today said the Government had decided that contribution to the energy needs of the nation from renewable energy sources be raised to eight per cent from the present five per cent, during the next plan.

Talking to newspersons here on the occasion of the fourth 'Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas' being celebrated on August 20 in the State on the occasion of the late leader Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary, Mr Muttemwar said Mr Gandhi wanted to provide electricity to all houses in the country and laid emphasis on promoting alternate sources of energy.

The Minister said the government had undertaken mass awareness campaigns to apprise the people about advantages of new and renewable sources of energy.

Cautioning that the fossil energy would not last more than 70 to 80 years, he stressed that NGOs and individuals should intensify their campaign in creating awareness about the need for and importance of the non-conventional energy sources.

He said seven to eight Mega power plants, including one in AP with 5,000 MW generating capacity, would come up to augment the energy needs of the country.

Mr Muttemwar said the States progress were affected due to shortage in power generation and wanted them to encourage production of power through non-conventional sources like bio-energy, hydrogen, wind energy and hydel energy.

Admitting that the Investment needed for setting up non-conventional power generation units was high, the Minister pointed out that it was a one-time investment and there would be no recurring expenditure. The sources are non-depleting, environment-friendly and available in most of the country throughout the year.

He said the research and demonstration efforts that took place during the last 25 years had put India in the second position in biomass and fourth in wind energy in the world.

He said on the occasion of the Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas, marathons, seminars and other awareness creating activities would be taken up not only in the State Capitals, but also in all the districts in the country.

Stating that the State Government, under the leadership of Dr Reddy, had understood the need to raise the contribution from the non-conventional sector, the State Minister for Energy Mohd Ali Shabbir said the Government would soon come out with a new policy in the matter.

Mr Shabbir lauded the Centre and Mr Mutemwar for choosing Andhra Pradesh to celebrate 'Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas' this year.

UNI