Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The Vice President (VP) M Venkaiah Naidu on September 12, 2021, called upon large institutions and public sector organisations to strive towards sustainability in their operations by using renewable energy. He suggested greater adoption of rooftop solar plants in industries and big establishments like universities and government buildings and godowns.
Naidu, in this regard, appealed to all states and local bodies to consider adopting the model building by-laws for new buildings. He also advocated the need to make solar rooftop plants, solar water heaters, and rainwater harvesting mandatory for large buildings and government organisations, along with ensuring sufficient light and ventilation.
Dedicating the 1.5 Megawatt rooftop solar power plant at Jawaharlal Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, to the nation, Naidu said that India is fast-moving towards becoming the global leader for ‘energy transition’. He hailed the recent landmark of 100 Gigawatt of installed renewable energy capacity in India.
Highlighting the significance of rooftop solar plants in continuing the momentum of India’s ‘energy transition’, VP Naidu observed that rooftop plants use empty areas on buildings, generate power close to the point of consumption and reduce transmission losses. He called for State, Central and UT governments to work together as Team India to popularise the tapping of solar energy and bring about greater awareness among people on the benefits of installing solar panels on their rooftops. He called for massive campaigns to publicise the subsidy programmes for solar rooftop systems and the resultant electricity savings, according toa PIB release.
Referring to the lessons from the pandemic, Naidu stressed the importance of ventilation and air circulation in buildings. “Sunlight is a natural disinfectant. Our ancestors understood this – it reflected in their planning and construction of houses,” he noted. He underscored the need to create living and working spaces with ample ventilation and natural light to maintain good health.
Naidu also commended medical institutions like JIPMER for showing extraordinary resolve during the pandemic and rising to the occasion. He said that due to the collective efforts of such institutions, doctors, medical staff, and healthcare workers, the country has been fighting the pandemic effectively.
Lt. Governor of Puducherry, Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, Chief Minister, Shri N. Rangasamy, Speaker, Puducherry Assembly, Shri Embalam R. Selvam, Lok Sabha MP Shri V. Vaithilingam, MLA from Puducherry, Shri V. Aroumougame, Director, JIPMER, Puducherry, Dr. Rakesh Aggarwal and others were present during the event.