By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Despite having huge potentials of generating solar energy in the state, yet not even point one per cent has been exploited so far, claimed experts.
“The potential of renewable energy source in the state is about 3669 MW”, Director of the Meghalaya Non-Conventional and Rural Energy Development Agency (MNREDA), John Rodborne said.
Rodborne was delivering a speech at a one-day workshop on ‘Tourism and sustainable energy: sustainable development’ organised by the tourism department of Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU) as part of the World Tourism Day celebration at Brookdene Hall in city on Thursday.
Stating that initiatives have been taken up to shift to sustainable energy for a better future, Rodborne said “By 2020, the target of the Union government is to make solar energy at par with the other conventional sources of energy by producing as much as 20,000MW.”
“Various initiatives have been taken by the government to generate solar energy and other sources of renewable energy especially in the rural areas”, Rodborne said.
The MNREDA director also stated that the potential of bio energy in the state is 165 MW while Wind energy is 90 MW and Small Hydro energy is to 414 MW.
Meanwhile, the Manager Enterprise Finance of the Meghalaya Rural Development Society (MRDS) Ronald Kynta stressed on village tourism stating that the main focus should be drawn to eco-tourism
The Tourism department of the state government also observed the world tourism day at State central Library premises whereby Parliamentary secretary for tourism Dr PW Khongjee was the chief guest.
As part of the celebration, an inter-school quiz competition was also conducted by Quiz Master Rahul Chatterjee in which students from 10 different schools participated.
On the same day, an on-line reservation for Pinewood hotel was launched.