New Delhi, May 21 (Inditop) India’s young MPs have been urged by NGO Greenpeace to lead a “renewable energy revolution and save the planet from the gravest danger it faces – climate change”.
Greenpeace activists held a demonstration here Thursday outside the 10 Janpath home of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, carrying cutouts of windmills and holding aloft placards that called upon “young MPs to lead the ministry of new and renewable energy and provide it with the required vision and decisive leadership”.
“The renewable energy sector is a sure way for emerging young political Turks to address the twin agendas of poverty and opportunity,” said Karuna Raina, climate campaigner of Greenpeace.
“This will be the ministry that powers India in the 21st century and we need young people to lead us to an energy revolution that would revolutionise development in villages. While India was amongst the first countries to institute a separate ministry for non conventional energy, the ministry has not delivered on its own promises and has shown a distinct lack of vision.”
Sonia Gandhi’s office has confirmed a meeting with Greenpeace to discuss this issue, after the swearing-in of the new government on Friday. “We see this as a positive step by the new government and hope to see renewable energy taken up as a priority and critical portfolio,” said Anasua Mukherjee, political spokesperson for Greenpeace.
The NGO pointed out that renewable energy can provide immediate access to electricity and power-reliant services in rural areas. It involves production, distribution and transmission of power in a decentralised model. A village can be completely self-sufficient with respect to electricity and energy.
“This would not only provide power to millions who have no access to quality power today, but would also provide them livelihood and income generation opportunities,” a Greenpeace spokesperson said.
“The world is moving in the direction of renewable energy and countries are competing to gain leadership in this industry. India has led an IT and telecom revolution in the past and should aim to lead the energy revolution now,” said Raina.
