Kalam wants big push to river linking project

August 15, 2005

Comments:

The speech is very positive. However, here is how this can be

interpreted. If India doesn't prepare for energy independence and to

counter Global warming, India can expect a double whammy within the

next 25 to 50 years !!!! This is a real strong warning and a great

indication of peak oil.

Vijay

Kalam wants big push to river linking project

Press Trust of India

New Delhi, August 14, 2005

With the devastation caused by the recent floods in Maharashtra and

other states fresh in memory, President APJ Abdul Kalam on Sunday said

the ambitious project of interlinking of rivers should be implemented

with a " sense of urgency " and efforts should be made to overcome

" various hurdles " in its way.

Addressing the nation on the eve of 59th Independence Day, the First

Citizen stressed the need for achieving " Energy Independence " by

evolving a comprehensive renewable energy policy and accelerating

research for forecasting earthquakes.

" While we are celebrating 59th anniversary of our hard-earned political

independence, we have to remember the sufferings of our people affected

by the recent rains and floods in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh,

Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa, " Kalam said in the address

which entirely focussed on science and technology aspects.

Reminding that Mumbai and other areas of Maharashtra had borne the

brunt of nature's fury, he said " rainfall and floods are annual

features in many parts of the country. "

He emphasised that " instead of thinking about interlinking of rivers

only at times of flood and drought, it is time that we implement this

programme with a great sense of urgency.

" We need to make an effort to overcome various hurdles in our way to

the implementation of this major project. I feel that it has the

promise of freeing the country from the endless cycle of floods and

droughts. "

Pointing out that earthquakes were another natural phenomenon that

affects and causes damages of high magnitude without pre-warning in

many parts of the country, the renowned Scientist-President said there

was a need to " accelerate research " for forecasting quakes.

Research work on earthquake forecasting is being done in many

countries, Kalam said, adding in India also there should be an

integrated research team consisting of experts drawn from academia,

meteorology and space departments for creating earthquake forecast

modelling using pre-earthquake and post-earthquake data collected from

various earthquake occurrences in the country.

This can be validated periodically with the proven forecasting data

available from other countries, he said.

Kalam noted that in the wake of successive calamities driven by nature

across the world, many countries have started pursuing

inter-disciplinary area of research, known as Earth Systems Science.

It, he said, is fast emerging as an area of convergence between earth,

climate, ocean, environment, instrumentation and computer sciences.

" I strongly suggest that India should mount a programme in this

emerging area of Earth Systems Science. This will call for a dedicated,

cohesive and seamless integration between researchers in multiple areas

an in multiple organisations, " he said.

Delving upon the issue of energy, Kalam said: " Energy Independence " has

to be India's " first and highest priority " and the country must be

determined to achieve this within the next 25 years.

" This one major 25-year national mission must be formulated, funds

guaranteed and leadership entrusted without delay as public-private

partnerships to our younger generation, now in their 30's, as their

lifetime mission in a renewed drive for nation-building, " the President

said.

Noting that India has 17 per cent of the world's population but just

0.8 per cent of the world's known oil and natural gas resources, he

emphasised the need for developing " energy security " , considering it is

the lifeline of modern societies.

" Energy security, which means ensuring that our country can supply

life-line energy to all its citizens, at affordable costs at all times,

is thus a very important and significant need and is an essential step

forward, " he said.

" But it must be considered as a transition strategy to enable us to

achieve our real goal, that is Energy Independence or an economy which

will function well with total freedom from oil, gas or coal imports, "

Kalam said.

He underlined that the strategic goals for energy independence by 2030

would call for a shift in the structure of energy sources.

" For true energy independence, a major shift in the structure of energy

sources from fossil to renewable energy sources is mandated, " he said.

The President said the country needed to critically look at the

requirement for energy independence in different ways in two major

sectors -- electric power generation and transportation.

He emphasised the greater need for tapping energy sources such as solar

and nuclear energy besides generating power from municipal wastes.

By 2030, Kalam said, the demand from the power sector will increase to

400,000 MW from existing 120,000 MW, assuming an energy growth rate of

five per cent per annum.

At present, the country has an installed capacity of about 121,000 MW

of electricity, which is three per cent of the world capacity, Kalam

said adding the country also depends on oil to the extent of 114

million tonnes every year, 75 per cent of which is imported and used

almost entirely in the transportation sector.

He said electric power generation in the country at present accesses

four basic energy sources -- fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and

coal; hydroelectricity; nuclear power and renewable energy sources as

bio-fuels, solar, biomass, wind and ocean.

On using nuclear energy sources, the President said there would be a

requirement for a 10-fold increase in nuclear power generation even to

attain a reasonable degree of energy self-sufficiency for the country.

" Therefore, it is essential to pursue the development of nuclear power

using thorium, reserves of which are higher in the country, " he said.

Kalam said technology development has to be accelerated for

thorium-based reactors since the raw material for thorium is abundantly

available in the country.

Nuclear fusion research, he said, also needs to be progressed with

international cooperation to keep the option for meeting the large

power requirement at a time when fossil fuels get depleted.

Referring to generating power from municipal wastes, he said studies

indicate that as much as 5800 MW of electricity can be generated by

setting up 900 plants spread over different parts of the country.

" Electric power generation and creation of clean environment are the

twin advantages, " the President said.

Describing transportation sector as the fastest growing energy

consumer, he said it consumes nearly 112 million tonnes of oil annually

and is critically important for the nation's economy and security.

" The complete substitution of oil imports for the transportation

sectors is the biggest and toughest challenge for India, " he said.

Kalam said bio-fuel also has a significant potential to lead the

country towards energy independence, noting that India has the

potential to produce nearly 60 million tonnes of this energy source

annually.

" What is needed is a full economic chain from farming, harvesting,

extraction to esterification, blending and marketing, " he said.

The President said by 2020, India should achieve comprehensive energy

security through enhancement of our oil and gas exploration and

production worldwide.

By year 2030, the country should achieve energy independence through

solar power and other forms of renewable energy, maximise the

utilisation of hydro and nuclear power and enhance bio-fuel production

through large-scale energy plantations like Jatropha, he said.

" We need to evolve a comprehensive renewable energy policy for energy

independence within a year, " he said adding it should address all

issues relating to generation of energy through wind, solar,

geothermal, biomass and ocean.

" Energy security leading to energy independence is certainly possible

and is within the capability of the nation, " he said.

India has knowledge and natural resources and " what we need is planned

integrated missions to achieve the target in a time-bound manner, "

Kalam added.

August 15, 2005

what exactly does this interlinking project mean?

what is going to happen?

and..oh goodie..more nuclear power plants..just what they need

*shakes head*

rvijay <rvijay07

Aug 14, 2005 4:40 PM