- Gujarat tops in rooftop solar power generation and stands second in the nation in producing solar energy: Mukesh Zinabhai Patel
- Gujarat has set up 4 to 5 CBG (compressed biogas) stations for automobiles and the nation will have 5,000 such facilities to boost green and clean energies: M Annadurai, State Level Co-ordinator, Oil Industry
NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, APR 28
Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced India’s ambitious pledge to be net zero emitter by 2070, Gujarat Minister of State for Forest and Environment, Climate Change, Water Resources and Water Supply Mukesh Zinabhai Patel called upon all to imbibe habits of fuel conservation and urged the students to spread this awareness among all.
He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of Saksham 2023 (Sanrakshan Kshamta Mahotsav), a 15-day campaign to sensitise citizens to the acute need for petroleum conservation, at Pandit Dindayal Upadhyay Auditorium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
The Minister said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the COP 26 held in Glasgow, announced India’s ambitious pledge to be net zero emitter by 2070. Under the leadership of visionary PM Modi, the Government of India has formulated various plans and strategies to considerably enhance the use of renewable sources of energy like wind and solar. And now the Centre is giving thrust to hydrogen power generation too. I applaud the oil PSUs for their planning to conduct various activities in the state of Gujarat for petroleum products conservation. I assure the state government’s commitment for optimal use of petroleum products. Gujarat tops in rooftop solar power generation and stands second in the nation in producing solar energy. I call upon all to imbibe habits of fuel conservation and urge the students gathered here to spread this awareness among all.”
The Minister also stressed on the present theme of SAKSHAM-23 which was “Energy Conservation towards Net Zero Emission” and requested people to take part in this conservation and to give the benefits to the future generation also. He also urged all to undertake rain water harvesting in a larger scale as the ground water was fast depleting.
M Annadurai, State Level Co-ordinator, Oil Industry, Gujarat and Executive Director of Indian Oil Corporation Limited- Gujarat, stressed upon the judicious consumption of petroleum products & need to conserve it for future generations & the importance of environment protection. He also informed that during the SAKSHAM-2023 campaign more than three thousand activities will be conducted in Gujarat for promoting Green and Clean energy with aim of achieving Net Zero Emissions. Seminars, Panel Discussions, EV Rally, CNG Rally, Walkathons & Cyclothons will be undertaken to drive home this message.
“Given that India depends on imports for over 85 per cent of its energy needs, awareness campaigns like ‘Saksham 2023’ will go a long way in making people understand the need to save fuel. The Government of India has formulated various plans and strategies to considerably enhance availability of crude oil and gas. Biofuels are being promoted to reduce consumption of fossil fuels. Also, energy conservation efforts need to be intensified to make the whole country more energy efficient than ever before. Gujarat has set up 4 to 5 CBG (compressed biogas) stations for automobiles and the nation will have 5,000 such facilities to boost green and clean energies. Under Saksham-2022, over 6,000 events had been organized, including one at PDP University in Gandhinagar, to achieve Net Zero mission by 2070,” Annadurai added.
Ahmedabad Mayor Kiritkumar J Parmar informed about the various initiatives taken by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation towards achieving Net Zero Emissions in Gujarat in general and Ahmedabad in particular.
Earlier, a rally of 800 school children was flagged off by the Chief Guest & Guest of Honor to propagate the message of Oil & Gas conservation drive.
The Oil & Gas Conservation drive has been observed from 24.04.2023 to 08.05.2023. Oil Industry Officials comprising the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., & GAIL (India) Ltd. in association with PCRA (Petroleum Conservation & Research Association) have been observing this.
Dr. Rajiv Srivastava of PCRA anchored the event.
