New Delhi, Nov 17 ,2020: Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday said the country will remain dependent on fossil fuel resources for generation of electricity to meet its basic needs and those of different industries.
Emphasizing on need of cleaner fuel, he said “We need to develop cleaner routes to manage and mitigate environmental menace” and noted “We hope to meet the commitment made under the Paris Agreement on climate change to cut emissions and also work towards Sustainable Development Goals”.
Dr Harsh Vardhan was inaugurating the Platinum Jubilee Foundation Day celebrations of CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research at Dhanbad, through video-conferencing.
On the occasion, the Minister also inaugurated the Coal to Syngas Plant and Centre of Excellence for Strategic and Infrastructure Sectors; Centre of Excellence for Coal Gasification and also dedicated the Innovative technology for import substitution of coking coal to the nation virtually.
Congratulating CSIR-CIMFR for achieving various important milestones during its more than seven decades of journey, he said that it was desirable that CIMFR takes up multi-disciplinary research on mechanization and automation of mining activities with the state-of-the-art technologies in mining industry using digital mining solutions through internet of things (IoT) interventions”.
Noting the importance of conservation of environment the Minister further said “It is also important to pay attention to conservation of soil and biodiversity, carbon footprint, socio-economic and agro ecosystems, wildlife management plan, bio-reclamation of degraded ecosystem.
Dr Harsh Vardhan also expressed his happiness that CIMFR has been a leading institution for Strategic and Infrastructure Sectors with contributions to the Rock Excavation Engineering Research Group which has been associated in the construction of important roadways/railways, tunnels, hydroelectric projects, opencast and underground mines.
“The technology solutions provided by CSIR-CIMFR have helped in expediting the construction of some important and strategic Indo-China and Indo-Pak border roads”, he noted. “CSIR-CIMFR is playing a vital role in enhancing the progress of border roads in Northern and North-East India by being a knowledge partner to Border Roads Organization”, the Minister added.
While unveiling the Logo of the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of the Institute, Dr Vardhan lauded the role of Indian scientists and said that our scientists and engineers have provided scientific expertise internationally too for the construction of Kaladan Multimodal Transit Project (Mizoram-Myanmar), Salma Dam (Afghanistan), Tala and Punatsangchu I & II hydel projects (Bhutan)”.
Niti Aayog Member Dr V K Saraswat, CSIR DG Dr Shekhar C. Mande, DSIR Secretary Pradeep Singh and Director, CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research and many other dignitaries were present at the function.
