JOIN US'Look for alternative ways of generating energy'
Atomic Energy Commission Chairman and Department of Atomic Energy Secretary to Government of India Dr Srikumar Banerjee stressed on the need to deviate from the traditional way of generating energy using fossil fuels to the alternative methods of generating energy.
He was delivering the convocation address at the 30th annual convocation of Mangalore University at Mangala Auditorium in the University campus on Thursday. He said that global problems can be tackled by paying serious attention to three issues namely education, energy and environment.
With only 60 per cent of the population having access to electricity, there is an immense need to produce energy for the development of the nation. However, the traditional forms of generating energy including fossil fuel fired thermal power stations are causing harm to the environment by highly contributing to the emission of green house gases.
Giving out the strategy for reducing the negative effects of climate change, he said the carbon-free sources of energy should be utilised in a sustained manner using a combination of nuclear, renewable and fossil fuels with sequestration.
Nuclear power in India
The Atomic Energy Commission Chairman informed that India has already developed adequate core competence in all aspects of nuclear energy which is essential for the development of nuclear power stations.
“The road map has been already prepared for the three stage nuclear programme providing a blueprint for achieving sustainable energy security. The development of nuclear power plant based on thorium cycle requires a whole lot of technology and many of these technologies have to be developed independently in India for the first time,” he said. The operation of Kaiga nuclear power plant is satisfactory and its operation capacity has reached 100 percent. he said.
Dr Banerjee also emphasised on utilising solar energy to supply power to Indian houses.
Honoris Causa
Three achievers in different fields were conferred with honorary doctorate degrees during the convocation. Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda conferred Honoris Causa on Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr Srikumar Banerjee (D.Sc), educationalist Dr Govinda Rao Marapalli (D.Litt) and litterateur Erya Laxminarayana Alva (D.Litt) for their distinct achievements.
Ranks, degrees
The University awarded 44 Doctor of Philosophy degrees, 35 gold medals and 57 cash prizes during the convocation event. As many as 62 ranks (PG-44 and UG-18) were presented to the rank holders. A total of 1,411 students were given degrees in person on Thursday.