November 22, 2001

NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY MINISTRY DISPLAYS WAYS TO HARNESS ENERGY FROM NATURE AT IITF

        The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources (MNES) has placed on display at the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2001, different ways to harness energy from nature. The Minister of State for Non-Conventional Energy Sources (Independent Charge) Shri M. Kannappan visited the pavilion of the Ministry at the Trade Fair here today. Apart from showing different means of harnessing natural energy, the displays also document the spectacular progress made by the country with new and renewable indigenous sources of energy, and their impact on rural and urban areas.

        The displays are attracting good crowds and products are evincing very good commercial interest. The outdoor pavilion has on display solar cookers and parabolic concentrated solar cookers. Visitors can also enjoy the food cooked in them. Other applications of solar energy are also shown. These include Solar Water Heating Systems, Solar Lanterns, Solar Street Lights, Biomass Gasifiers, Solar drier/air heating systems, Solar distillation, Industrial solar water heating, Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) community applications, SPV for agriculture, Solar lanterns and community improved chulhas. Pollution free battery powered vehicles sponsored by the Ministry are also on display. A mobile exhibition van for spreading and creating awareness is also on display. The Ministry has so far given one such van to each state. Hundred percent subsidy for the cost of these mobile vans has been given to the states of the North East and Sikkim while 50 percent subsidy has been given to the other states. 22 states have received such vans so far.

    Write-ups, modular displays and photographic displays on various areas of development are featured inside the pavilion. In addition outside the pavilion, awareness is being spread through cultural programmes, by a group of the Song and Drama Division of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

    The India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) is using a battery powered pollution free transport vehicle for ferrying VIPs.