India should be allowed to import more nuclear fuel: PM

The Dollar Business Bureau After laying stress on India’s thrust towards renewable energy production as an effort to ensure universal energy access to India at the Re-Invest 2015 – first Renewable Energy Global Investors Meet & Expo in mid-February, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi called upon the world to ease restrictions for India on import of nuclear fuel, so that India could also produce clean nuclear energy in a big way. Modi, who inaugurated the Conference of State Environment and Forest Ministers in New Delhi, on April 6, 2015 also added that, the Government is focusing on clean energy generation in a big way, through solar radiation, wind and biomass. During Re-Invest 2015, Modi called for a sustained technological research in renewable energy and the need for domestic equipment manufacturing in renewable energy as part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative. He also announced, “With an aim to pool research and technology advancements in the field of solar energy, India is working towards forming a consortium of 50 countries that have abundant solar energy.” Modi also suggested the development of hybrid energy parks that involve both solar and wind power to achieve maximized benefits. In the rural areas, the PM suggested for the solar pumps to reduce input costs for the farmers and also called for micro-irrigation as a step to enhance crop yield. He said Indians have always conserved nature, and even today, have among the lowest per-capita carbon emission, globally. He said the way forward is not just restrictions, but changing lifestyles. He said the culture of recycle and re-use is not new for India. Instead of being forced to follow parameters laid down by others, India should lead the world in the fight against climate change, he added.    

This article was published on April 6, 2015.