The ambitious Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) would be totally green, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah announced at an “International Conference and Exhibition on Green Buildings” here on Thursday.
Dr. Abdullah said not only would the DMIC be completely green, but the towns on the stretch would also be environment-friendly. “Work on the ambitious corridor that connects the capital with the country’s financial capital has already started and the government would make all efforts to make the country greener.”
The Minister blamed the United States and the West for “environmental destruction” due to emission of greenhouse gases. “I want to tell the Americans and the West that we are paying the price today for environmental destruction because of the greenhouse gas emissions. We are not responsible for it. Let us join together and try to make this world a better place to live. We should all work together to generate new energy and use them. The world should be a better place to live.”
The government was taking a number of steps to use new energy as a major source of power. The major challenge before it was to produce more power and bring down the cost of the new energy.
Dr. Abdullah said the Ministry was planning to replace diesel power generators of all mobile phone towers with solar panels. The country should make a gradual switchover to renewable energy, as coal and diesel prices were rising and becoming unaffordable.
‘Our needs are different’
The Minister insisted on more research to produce new energy. He also pitched for import of technology and then developing it “on our own.” “Our needs are far different from that of others. We have done very well in wind energy — we have produced 17,000 MW and we plan to add 2,000 MW every year.”
Dr. Abdullah released the new rating system for green buildings, known as “Leed 2011 for India,” and distributed awards to students from across the country for taking part in green competitions.
The new rating comes into effect immediately. It marks a milestone in the green building movement in the country seeking to ensure energy efficiency and sustainable buildings.
The Minister urged the delegates to work together and develop new technologies and material at lower prices so that green homes became accessible to the common man. “The Ministry will be glad to cooperate with the Confederation of Indian Industry in further accelerating the green building movement in India.”
