India is unique in terms of diversity, scale, capacity, potential as well as performance and the world feels the country is the best bet for the 21st century, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday (September 16, 2024) in his address at the 4th edition of Global Renewable Energy Investors Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST 2024) in Gandhinagar.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Modi said 140 crore Indians have pledged to make the country world’s third largest economy. “When the history of the 21st century will be written, the chapter of India’s solar revolution will be written in golden letters,” the PM said
“In the first 100 days of the third term, we’ve tried to address every sector and factor for country’s rapid progress,” the Prime Minister said.
“India is preparing the base for development for the next 1000 years and the focus is not just to reach the top but to sustain the rank. In the first 100 days, you can witness our priorities, speed and scale,” he said.
India knows its energy requirements to become a developed nation by 2047 and since the country does not have its own oil and gas resources and is not energy independent, it has decided to build its future on the strength of solar, wind, nuclear and hydro power, he said.
“For us green future and net zero are not just fancy words. These are requirements of the country and we are committed to achieve it. The government is working to develop Ayodhya and 16 other cities as model solar cities,” he said at RE-INVEST 2024.
The entire world feels India is the best bet for the 21st century, he added.
Mr. Modi said his government has taken many big decisions in the green energy sector, including the viability gap funding scheme for offshore green energy projects with an outlay of ₹Rs 7000 crore, as well as approval of more than ₹12,000 crore for 31,000 MW hydro power generation.
Highlighting the speed and scale of his government’s work, the PM said a decision was taken to build seven crore houses for the poor, of which four crore were completed in his second term itself.
The Union government has set aside a ₹1 trillion research fund apart from taking several initiatives for electric mobility and high performance bio manufacturing, Mr. Modi said.
His third term was due to the huge aspirations of the people and the trust 140 crore Indians, including youth, women and the poor, reposed on him, the PM said.
“India is the first G-20 country to meet climate commitments made in Paris nine years before the deadline. We are the only one to achieve this among G-20 nations. We did what developed nations could not do,” he said.
Asserting that India was working at several levels to achieve a 500 GW renewable energy target, Modi said the ‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijlee Yojana’ was “a unique rooftop solar scheme” for which the government provides funds and helps in installation of solar rooftops in every household.
With this scheme, every household is going to become a power producer, he said, adding 13 million families have registered for it, while 3.25 lakh households have completed installation.
Mr. Modi also interacted with beneficiaries of the ‘PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijlee Yojna’ in the Vavol area of Gandhinagar.
The fourth edition of Global Renewable Energy Investors Meet and Expo (RE-INVEST 2024) will feature nearly 40 sessions, including a Chief Ministerial Plenary, a CEO Roundtable and technical sessions, said an official release.
(With inputs from PTI)
Published - September 16, 2024 12:00 pm IST
