Noting that the Capital has been able to check pollution by using compressed natural gas (CNG ) for its public transport system, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday stressed the need to conserve and preserve resources for the future and make use of new and renewable energy sources.
Speaking at the Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Divas-2009 celebrations organised by the Environment Department at Delhi Secretariat, the Chief Minister said that to promote use of renewable energy sources, her government had been giving a grant of Rs.6,000 on purchase of solar water heater to individuals.
The Chief Minister said use of solar water heating system had been made mandatory in industries, hospitals, nursing homes, hotels, canteens and residential buildings having an area of 500 sq. m. or more. Besides it is also essential for colleges and hostels to have these systems on which a subsidy of 60 per cent is provided.
The Delhi Government, Ms. Dikshit said, has also been encouraging construction of green buildings, especially for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Stating that climate change and fast depleting groundwater level were major challenges, Ms. Dikshit said that in Delhi the consumption of power had gone up from 1,900 MW to more than 4,000 MW during the past few years. Making a mention of how nearly 600 MW were saved during the one hour “switch off” drive on Earth Day, she said, on a longer term only conservation, preservation and recycling would ensure a comfortable future.
As part of the Akshay Urja Divas celebrations, which have been a regular feature since 2004 and takeplace on the birth anniversary of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, various competitions such as essay-writing, painting, quiz and poster-making were held on the theme of “Renewable Energy Resource.”
Later Ms. Dikshit presented cash awards worth Rs. 25,000, Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 15,000 to the first, second and third prize winners respectively in the essay writing and poster-making competitions. Three consolation prizes of Rs.5,000 each were also given away in both these categories.
In the poster-making competition Rashmi Kapoor of Adarsh Public School, Vikaspuri, bagged the first prize, Kritika Yadav of St. Cecilia Public School came second, and Anurag Singh of Sarvodaya Boys School, Chand Nagar got the third spot.
In the essay-writing competition, Soumya Mehndiratta from Hansraj Model School stood first, Soumya Jain of St. Cecilia Public School came second, while Arushi Jain of Adarsh Public School secured the third spot.
