Jalandhar 20 Dec,2011: An interactive seminar and dialogue, the first of its kind in the country on “Energy Saving in Agri Life Cycle” was organized today by Punjab Energy Development Agency in association with the Bureau ofEnercy Efficiency. Government of India and E Matra, a voluntary effort, at Jalandhar.
This dialogue and seminar assumes special significance because of the fact that it is first time in the country when representatives from the entire Agri Cycle including farming, storage, processing, marketing sat and interacted with the ijplementing agencies to discuss issues involving Agri Cycle.
According to Shri Mohinder Singh Mianwal, Founder of ‘E-mantra’, the economic returns on investment in various segments of ‘Agri Life Cycle’ including Farming, Storage, Processing such as Rice Shellers, Cold Stores etc. are decreasing continuously and the only way forward appears to be to reduce the cost of production. With energy cost being 12% to30% of the total cost in these segments and the potential of saving 7% to 15% of the energy through efficient use of technologies and practices, we can make significant improvement in economic returns in the Acri Cycle activities. What we need is an Integrated approach forall these segments so as to put Agri economy back on a sound footing. Emantra is a voluntaryeffort focusing onEnergy, Environment and Educatiion as pillars of development through people’s action. Having a direct interactive dialogue is the first one of its type as a part of this inititive.
The seminar ddressed by Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General. BEE through video conferencing. He emphasized on the need of efficient use of energy in all the section of the economy and requested the participants to involve themselves in this cause of nation to bridge the gap of energy between demand and supply.
The seminar was also addressed by Er. Arun Verma Distribution, PSPCL who gave details of various programs and policies to encourage efficient use of electricity in the state. This includes more efficient electric motors, use of CFL lights.
Er Balour Singh, Director PEDA said that his team is activelyinvolved in framing and implementation of programs for meeting energy needs of the state through improved efficiency and use of new and renewable sourcesof energy.
Sh. Balkr Singh, Senior Manager and coordinator of the programs introduced the concept and the objective of these dialogues as also the schemes being implemented by PEDA.
The Seminar was attended by, representatives of Rice Shellers, Cold Storages, Poultry Farms, villages opinion builders, educationist, rotary clubs, inner whel, industrialist and senior officers PSPCL., Municipal Corporation and other government officers.
