A four-member delegation of MlAs met Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das and submitted a memorandum to take steps to accelerate renewable energy utilisation in the State to ensure energy access, energy security and sustainable growth. MlAs namely Prasant Muduli, Priyadarsi Mishra, Akash Das Nayak and Ansuman Mohanty highlighted specific demands in the field of renewable energy in the State.
They submitted an expert report, model draft policy and guidelines for model renewable energy policy in the State. The expert report, commissioned by Climate Parliament and prepared by Ashden India, is a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of renewable energy policy and planning in Odisha.
Notably these MlAs are part of the Climate Parliament network of MlAs and MPs which is an international network of legislators to promote renewable energy to combat climate change. They asked for augmenting renewable energy in the State and pointed out that there is a need to strengthen renewable energy institutional framework in the State by recasting Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) under the Department of Energy. There should be more emphasis on clean cooking/thermal energy with 100 per cent focus on household coverage.
Renewable energy programmes should be integrated with rural development and at the same time should generate investor interest in renewable energy by strengthening SNAs in the State and providing single window clearances for renewable energy projects. Also legislators through lAD fund can demonstrate several possibilities for renewable energy applications for both rural and urban development in the State, they advocated.
Minister Das assured that initiatives will be more effective at district level when the district administration takes holistic development approach and makes renewable an inclusive component of its development plan.