India becomes one of biggest country to generate electricity from solar energy: PM Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday stated that the world is turning to solar energy as the future since India has grown to be one of the largest producers of electricity from solar energy.

“Today, India is combining its traditional experiences with modern science, that is why, we have become one of the largest countries to generate electricity from solar energy,” Prime Minister said, while addressing the 94th edition of Mann Ki Baat programme on All India Radio.

He stressed that, ” India is combining her traditional experiences with modern science in this field and further stated that solar energy is changing the lives of the poor and middle class of the country is also a subject of study”.

Modi said the Sun has not only been worshipped for centuries in India, but has also been the focus of the way of life of the people.

He cited the example of Thiru K. Ezilon of Tamil Nadu, who is a farmer. Mr Ezilon took the benefit of “Kusum Yojana” and installed a solar pump set of ten horsepower in his farm.

“Now, they do not have to spend money on electricity for their farm. They are not even dependent on the government’s electricity supply for irrigation in the field anymore” he stated.

Mr Modi said that solar energy has demonstrated that people can be paid for producing electricity instead of paying for using electricity.

Speaking about the country’s first Solar Village – Modhera of Gujarat Prime Minister said that most houses in Modhera “Surya Gram” have started generating electricity from solar power.

The Prime Minister said that people of many villages of the country are now writing to him stating that their village should also be converted into Surya Gram.

“The day is not far when the construction of Surya Grams in India will become a big mass movement” he added.

The Prime Minister said Modhera should be an inspiration for the whole country and this experience can be replicated across the country.

Touching upon the subject of the environment, Modi highlighted that there is no dearth of people who spend a lifetime in the protection of the environment.

“We have recently launched Mission LiFE, an initiative to promote sustainable living and making lifestyle choices that are good for the environment” he said.

He said, “Mission LiFE is based on a simple principle which encourages a life of sustainable development without harming nature. He also urged the countrymen to accept and strengthen this initiative.

Modi cited the example of Suresh Kumar, who lives in Bengaluru. Twenty years ago, Mr Kumar had taken the initiative to rejuvenate a forest of Sahakarnagar in the city. The saplings that were planted 20 years ago have grown into 40 feet tall trees.

The Prime Minister hailed some villages of Tripura which have set very good examples. These villages have ascended to the level of Bio-Village 2.

Bio-Village 2 emphasizes how to minimize the damage caused by natural disasters. Under this, full attention is given to improving the quality of life of the people through various measures, he said.

The Prime Minister said, there is a complete focus on Solar Energy, Biogas, Bee Keeping and Bio-Fertilizers and stressed that Bio-Village 2 is going to lend a lot of strength to the campaign against climate change.