Keekli Reporter, 23rd March, 2017, Shimla
Himachal Pradesh Environmental Information System (ENVIS) centre housed in the State Council for Science, Technology & Environment (SCST&E), Shimla organized a one day seminar on “Renewable Energy: Sustaining a Green Future” at Hotel Holiday Home, Shimla in collaboration with The Energy Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi. The seminar is being organized for increasing awareness regarding the role of renewable energy under Smart Cities Mission and also as per the commitments of the country during COP21. The energy demands of the country and the state is bound to rise in view of rapid industrialization and the rising numbers of middle class and the coterminous urbanization. Importance of Renewable Energy Technologies in making a green future and designing and development of energy efficient Green building were also discussed.
Tarun Kapoor, Additional Chief Secretary (Environment, Science & Technology, Govt. Of Himachal Pradesh) presided over the inaugural session as Chief Guest. He gave a detailed address about the scenario of renewable energy in the country; the potential and also the constraints for the state of Himachal Pradesh. He emphasized the role of Solar Energy and the massive potential thereof for its further implementation and dissemination. He stated that the concept of passive heating in Government buildings as also private buildings has a lot of potential in the State and the designs of the new buildings to be constructed need to incorporate the same.
Special address was given by Archana Sharma, Director (Environment Science & Technology) and Kunal Satyarthi, Joint Member Secretary-cum-Coordinator ENVIS, SCST&E highlighted the relevance of the workshop. Amit Kumar, Sr. Director (social transformation), Dr. Sameer Saran, Scientist FIIRS, Dehradoon, Prof. P.K. Ahluwalia, Retd., Department of Physics, HP University, Rajinder Chauhan (Advisor) Industries, Department of Industries, Chandra Mohan Adhikari, ESRI were other prominent speakers on the occasion.
Climate change and the need to manage diminishing fossil fuel reserves are, today, two of the biggest challenges facing the planet. In order to secure the future for ourselves and generations to follow, it is widely accepted that we must act now to reduce energy consumption and substantially cut greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide.
The seminar was attended by about 80 participants from line departments like HPPWD, HP Electricity Board, HIMUDA, Town and Country Planning, Ayurveda, Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation, Himachal Pradesh General Industries Corporation, Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission, Urban Development Department, Rural Development Department, Directorate of Energy, Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission, Director of Industries, Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, HIMURJA, Municipal Corporation, and academicians from various Government and private and Govt. Universities across the State.
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