MNREDA exhibition

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, MAR 28: To promote non-conventional energy among citizens, the Meghalaya New and Renewable Energy Development Agency (MNREDA) today organised an Exhibition on Renewable Energy in its office premises here.

The exhibition was inaugurated by the Meghalaya power minister Sniawbhalang Dhar in presence of Principal Secretary (Power) M S Rao and Director MNREDA, U N Madan.

Addressing the gathering, Dhar said the main concern facing the state today was power deficit which has greatly affected the economy.

However, he said thrust has been given towards non-conventional energy which is sustainable as well as eco-friendly. He said that while non-renewable energy was needed, usage of renewable energy alongside can reduce power consumption to a large extent.

Moreover, he said the government was aware about the importance of development of renewable energy to provide the state with sustainable amount of energy and is committed to extend all support to the on-going programmes of the MNREDA in the development and promotion of renewable energy.

In his speech, Rao said that till date, the state is largely dependent on power from hydel projects and other sources of energy like coal, fossil fuels and others.

Such power generation has not only taken a toll on the environment but would exhaust at a certain period of time, he said.

Globally, he said, importance has been given to clean and sustainable energy which does not depend on exhaustible resources. This includes drawing power from the sun, wind, bio-gas, bio-mass and others.

“To make the State power efficient, we need to create awareness among the masses about the advantages of renewable energy,” he said. He said this was not only cost effective but sustainable as well.

Rao said that such exhibits and demonstration allow students to get first-hand knowledge about the usage of renewable energy and gave them an opportunity to contribute in the development of renewable sources of energy. He called upon the students to carry on the message to the community on the growing need for energy conservation by adopting renewable sources of power.