The Hindu Business Line : Kalam for adopting energy independent solutions

The former President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, unveils a plaque to launch the ’waste to energy’ project taken up by the Cochin Chamber of Commerce on Monday.

Our Bureau

Kochi, Feb. 4 The former President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on Monday inaugurated the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which has adopted the theme ‘Making Kerala an Economic Powerhouse: Sustainable, Equitable and Green’.

Unveiling a plaque on the occasion while announcing the launch of Cochin Waste2Energy project, Mr Kalam said that energy independent solutions should be adopted in the country in the next 20 years as fossil fuel is getting depleted. Given the situation, energy influence should be one of the focal points of the chamber, he said.

Solar power is now one of the important components in energy independence and today solar cells are inefficient.

He also cited the examples of the technology adopted in Vijayawada and Hyderabad to generate 7 MW of power from waste management.

The former President also stressed the need to develop a Smart Waterway in Kerala, which according to him, would not only save power but also provide tourism development. In the present Kerala scenario, the initial conditions of development such as quality of life, health etc are satisfactory. Generation of power will be the next challenge faced by the State, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the State Finance Minister, Dr Thomas Issac, said that he and his ministry agreed to most of the suggestions that Mr Kalam gave for Kerala’s economic development when he addressed the Kerala Assembly a couple of years back.

The Minister said that the Finance Commission has promised funds for Smart Waterways, the dream project of Mr Kalam.

The outlay for the projects envisioned by Mr Kalam has also gone up in the State budget, the Minister said adding that there is growing consensus among the political leadership in the State on developmental issues, coupled with a political will to address the controversies arising out of various projects.

Mr Jose Dominic, President of the Chamber, said that the Cochin Waste2Energy project is aimed at tackling the issue of waste management in Kochi as part of the Chamber’s commitment towards corporate social responsibility.

The Assocham President, Mr Venugopal N. Dhoot, was present on the occasion.

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