UPA Govt to realise Rajiv's vision of electrifying all houses

Hyderabad, Aug 20 (UNI) Noting that over 56 per cent of the people were without electricity even 60 years after independence, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Vilas Muttemwar today asserted that the Congress-led UPA Government was committed to achieve late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's vision of illuminating all houses in the country by tapping new and renewable energy sources.

Participating in a celebration of 'Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas (Renewable Energy day) here, the Minister said Rajiv Gandhi wanted that no house remained unelectrified for which he laid emphasis on promoting alternative sources of energy. The Government's aim was to ensure ''energy in every village and light in every house from Renewable Energy sources''.

Pointing out that no country could progress without sufficient power, he stressed the need for creating awareness among people about the advantages of renewable sources of energy as conventional sources of energy like coal, oil and gas would not last long.

Mr Muttemwar noted that as against the potential of 1.83 lakh MW of renewable energy, 10,602.01 MW had been achieved.

Noting that Andhra Pradesh had the potential to tap 9,000 MW of wind energy, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy disclosed that his Government would shortly come out with a Wind Energy policy to realise the potential. The State Government made it mandatory to install solar water heaters in all multi-storeyed buildings.

The Chief Minister administered a pledge to the youth to consciously avoid excessive consumption of energy derived from conventional sources, increase use of renewable energy and persuade their family and society to promote renewable energy.

Earlier, the Union Minister, along with State Energy Minister Mohd Ali Shabbir, inaugurated the 'Akshay Urja Exhibition' and flagged off the 'Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja National Marathon'.

UNI