Gujarat shows the way by focusing extensively on renewable energy
Under the visionary leadership of Shri Modi, Gujarat first state in India and entire Asia to set up climate change department
Gujarat shines in creation of solar energy and wind energy
by Dr. Nirav Shah
As we move into a smarter and faster world, full of innovations and technology, we also face perils of rapidly depleting sources of energy and pernicious ramifications on the environment. The entire world has been working hard to reduce the use of conventional sources of energy and adopt cleaner and greener sources. India, with its population has a major responsibility to contribute to this antecedent by reducing its carbon footprint.
Gujarat, luckily has the benefit of Shri Narendra Modi’s foresight. One of the very few national leaders to understand the gravity of the situation, Narendra Modi has catapulted Gujarat into unchartered territory by focussing extensively on renewable sources of energy.
Shri Narendra Modi has written a very insightful book called Convenient Action addressing the concerns of Climate change. Gujarat Government , under the able leadership of Shri Narendra Modi is the first state in India and Asia to set up a Department for Climate Change. 
Source: Energy Statistics 2012 (CSO)
Gujarat’s progress in the field of renewable sources of energy emphasises the importance of a sound policy and the will to implement it. Starting with negligible advancements in renewable sources of energy, Gujarat has achieved a remarkable turnaround under Shri Narendra Modi and dominates the production of renewable energy today. According to the Annual Report ‘Energy Statistics 2012’ published by Central Statistics Office, Gujarat potentially accounts for 14% of the total Renewable Energy Power generated in India, which is more than the larger states of India as explained by the table above. In addition to this, Gujarat also generates a large chunk of the total Solar Energy generated in the country. According to the Monthly Generation Report (August 12) Published by Central Electricity Authority, Gujarat produced 400.196 MU of the total 539.205 MU produced between April and August 2012. Thus, Gujarat produced an astonishing 74.21% of the total solar energy produced by the nation.
The Government of Gujarat, under Narendra Modi has undertaken many unique endeavours to ameliorate the generation of energy from renewable sources. Gujarat has shown exemplary vision and set up a 600 MW solar park at Charanka near Patan. It is a matter of great pride for Gujarat and India, that this is park, situated on approximately 2669 acres of waste land , is the largest of its kind in entire Asia! The picture of Shri Narendra Modi in the backdrop of the solar panels would remain permanently etched in our minds. The Government further gave a fillip to the generation of solar energy by involving the citizens with roof top solar power plant . This solar energy thus generated can be sold to the government and act as an additional source of income. This clean energy, in addition to supplementing the various other sources of energy and enriching the lives of people, would also help reduce lakhs of tonnes of Carbon Dioxide emissions. Another glaring example of the out of the box thinking of the government is the solar panels on canals project. Employing a very holistic approach, solar panels are set on top of canals, thus eliminating the need to procure land. Huge amounts of water evaporation can be prevented, in addition to generating electricity. It is a welcome change to see an Indian state spearheading a revolution of innovations and reform.
Not limiting itself to one source of alternative energy, the State Government is always on the hunt for new avenues to expand the domain of renewable power in Gujarat. As is the case with solar energy, Gujarat is one of the major producers of Wind Energy in India. Recognising the potential of wind energy and exhibiting proactive measures, Gujarat increased it’s wind energy generation ten folds in the last six years. Isn’t it an amazing growth story in a nation renowned for its bureaucratic roadblocks? Gujarat has also made significant advances in the field of bio energy as well.
But, unlike anyone, Narendra Modi , is a man with an indefatigable zeal to keep pushing the envelope of excellence. Instead of getting satisfied with the progress achieved, believe him to use this as propeller to achieve further heights. Today, Gujarat is at par with the western world in harnessing nature to generate energy. Just imagine what heights can we as a nation, abundantly blessed with natural resources, achieve if it follows the Gujarat Model?
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