Inaugurating the system Speaker said that there could not be a better place than the Parliament
House complex to make such a beginning.
Expressing happiness at development, she said that it is an important step that holds immense significance and symbolism towards setting the standards for using environment-friendly energy.
She recalled that on 11 December 2009, during the Question Hour, she had requested the Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, to install a solar lighting system in the Parliament House Complex. She noted that with a solar energy system operational within the precincts of the highest legislative body of the country, Parliament complex has shown the way to a green and environmentally-conscious India.
Referring to the constant efforts in making the Parliament Complex green and energy-efficient, Smt. Meira Kumar informed that a water harvesting system has been in operation for years and steps have been taken to make the Lok Sabha Secretariat as paperless as possible. She also referred to the proposal for the installation of kitchen waste-dependent bio-gas plant. Besides, there is a ban on use of plastic bags in the Parliament Complex. All these measures are examples of Parliament’s deep commitment to conserving scarce energy resources of the country and making development in India as green as possible, she added.
Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah in his address, proposed that Members of Parliament may adopt one institution each in their constituencies for installation of a Solar Energy Plant, which would provide a fillip to the use of green energy. ok Sabha Secretary-General T.K. Viswanathan was also present on the occasion.