For achieving ‘ener needs to be self-re
Policy makers, energy experts and stakeholders stressed the need to take effective measures to make India self-reliant in the energy sector so that the people get ‘ energy justice’, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
At the ‘Energy Conclave’, organised by NewsX channel and The Sunday Guardian in the capital on Wednesday, the speakers were unanimous that India should move towards ‘clean energy’ regime.
While addressing the gathering, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, dwelt at length the challenges faced by the economy due to the import of crude oil and stressed how ethanol can dominate the Indian fuel industry in the future.
Gadkari highlighted the new projects initiated by his ministry including the plan for construction of a Yamuna riverfront. Gadkari also promised that Ganga would be cleaner by March 2019. He said: “My aim is to create an ethanol-based economy of Rs 2 lakh crore. If ethanol is replaced with other conventional fuel options, it will reduce pollution. Ethanol will be cheaper and bring new solutions to the energy sector.” Gadkari shared about how buses in Nagpur are being run on ethanol.
Speaking about the new road projects, Gadkari said: “The government is planning to make Axis Control Express Highway which will connect Delhi-Mumbai and reduce travel time between the two cities to 12-13 hours.”
He said: “We are working on reducing the import of energy. One day, the country will stop importing the fuel and ethanol-based energy will cater to the energy needs in India.” The minister said that manufacturers like Bajaj and TVS are all ready for ethanol-based vehicles.
“The reason for inflation is the crude oil prices and it’s time to go for an option which is indigenous. GST on ethanol has already been reduced to 5% from 18%,” Gadkari said, adding “we have awarded contracts worth Rs 10 lakh crore and the media has all the rights to make headlines if they find anything wrong in the process.”
Asked about his reaction to Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s hug and wink, Gadkari said: “Congress has been a winking party.” Speaking about the performance of the Narendra Modi government, Gadkari said: “We are being proved at least 5 times better than the UPA government. We have the vision, transparency and we are committed to deliver time-bound development.”
The minister shared that he wants to make an all-season ‘Char Dham Road’, 35-km Yamuna riverfront and garden. He also said that he wants to develop waterways as new transport option to Agra, which will take only 15 minutes to reach Agra. Gadkari said that a ring road is being constructed in Delhi which will divert the traffic from nearby states and people travelling to Rajasthan, Punjab and other states will not require to enter the city.
Ajay Girotra, Managing Director AG Dauters, said: “We need to empower India through green and sustainable projects. We need to convert our waste to energy and we have been working to convert waste water to drinking water in several projects. Moreover, if we can convert our waste from farm products, every village in India can generate its own