Nuke energy option must be tried to meet energy deficit: Farooq Abdullah

Noting that dependency on renewable energy would not help India meet its power needs, Union Renewable Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah today said all options including that of nuclear energy must be tried to meet the deficit.

"We need more and more power generation and renewable energy only will not be the answer. We will have to depend on fossil fuel and we will have to work on nuclear energy also. India cannot develop unless we have massive energy and our aim should be to get it from all possible sources," he said.

Addressing a seminar organised by ASSOCHAM on renewable energy resources to use waste products for producing electricity, Abdullah said government is exploring possibilities of installing solar panels and wind mills in forest areas as well.

On promotion of green energy, he said, "A green corridor is coming from Delhi to Mumbai with Japanese collaboration where all the towns will be equipped with green energy sources."

He praised efforts by Gujarat and Rajasthan government for promoting solar and wind energy to produce electricity.

"Gujarat has done tremendous work in the area of solar energy and solar panels are being installed on streets and over canals to produce electricity and to prevent water from evaporation," he said.

On using wind mills, he said, "Rajasthan is doing well in wind energy production. We have started using two megawatt machines in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. We have also increased the size of the mast from 50 meters to 80 meters and soon it will go to 100 meters."

On producing hydro-electricity in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, "Chenab can gives us 16,000 MW, this date Baglihar project gives us 450 MW, another project for 450 MW is expected to come there soon."