PM calls upon startups to launch clean cooking movement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called upon start-up entrepreneurs to launch clean cooking movement to help poor families in the country.

He was speaking at Dashamah Soundarya Lahari Parayanamahotsava organised by Vedanta Bharathi at Palace Grounds here.

Modi termed Bengaluru as India's start-up hub and said: "Youths working in start-ups should launch clean cooking movement so that energy for cooking is easily available to poor families. The movement will end chopping of more trees for firewood."

"India is the biggest market for renewable energy projects. Youths should tap the opportunity and carry out innovation to use solar energy to for cooking purposes," he said.

He said his government was promoting renewable energy and explained how the initiative had helped the country financially.

Due to India's efforts, International Solar Alliance had been formed. The Centre had been promoting solar energy at national and international levels. Revolutionary changes had taken place in solar power production, Modi said.

"World's biggest renewable energy capacity expansion programme is taking place in India. The Centre plans to fulfill about 40% of India's energy requirements through renewable energy by 2030," he said.

The Centre had accorded infrastructure status to solar power plants, besides lending long-term loans at lesser rate of interest to set up plants. The government modified building by-laws to promote rooftop solar programme, he said.

Promotion of solar and wind energy would reduce burden of importing petroleum products from abroad, Modi observed.

Regarding LED bulbs and their impact, he said:"Under Ujala scheme, over 27,000 crore LED bulbs have been sold all over country, including 1.75 crore in Karnataka. This has saved about 7,000 MW electricity as LED bulbs consume less power."

"By using LED bulbs, middle class families have saved upto Rs 14,000 crore due to reduced electricity bills. Each tier-2 city in the country has saved electricity worth Rs 15 crore. These initiatives have saved upto Rs 60,000 crore to the country," Modi added.