Indian President Urges River Interlink and Energy Independence
Posted on: Monday, 15 August 2005, 09:00 CDT
Indian President urges river interlink and energy independence
NEW DELHI, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- On the eve of India's 59th anniversary of independence day, President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam emphasized on Sunday the need to urgently interlink rivers to tackle floods and droughts and to ensure energy independence by 2030.
In an address to the nation on radio and television, Kalam called for rebuilding urban infrastructure to prevent disasters like the flash floods in Mumbai last month.
The president underlined the need to accelerate research into earthquakes and other phenomena that posed a threat to areas with large populations.
Kalam asserted the time had come to implement the program for interlinking rivers with "a great sense of urgency".
"We need to make an effort to overcome various hurdles in our way to the implementation of this major project. I feel that it has the promise of freeing the country from the endless cycle of floods and droughts," he said.
Kalam also urged the country to strive for energy security by 2020 and energy independence by 2030.
"Energy independence has to be our nation's highest priority. We must be determined to achieve this in the next 25 years, therefore by the year 2030," the president said.
"This 25-year national mission must be formulated, funds guaranteed and leadership entrusted without delay as public- private partnerships to our younger generation, now in their 30s, as their lifetime mission in a renewed drive for nation-building," he added.
Pointing out that while India had 17 percent of the world's population but only 0.8 of the world's known oil and gas resources, Kalam said this made it incumbent for planners to focus on other areas like solar, nuclear and hydro power as also on renewable energy and non-conventional energy sources.
"Energy security leading to energy independence is certainly possible and is within the capability of the nation. India has knowledge and natural resources; what we need is planned integrated missions to achieve the target in a time-bound manner,"
Kalam called for evolving within a year a comprehensive renewable energy policy for achieving energy independence.
Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS
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