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India’s energy deficit down to 1% in four years: NITI Aayog

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New Delhi, Aug 8 (IANS) The installed power generation capacity in India has risen to 344 GigaWatts (GW) and its energy deficit, which stood at over 4 per cent in 2014, has shrunk to less than one per cent in 2018, an official release said on Wednesday.

NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant made a presentation at a review meeting held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday that looked at the progress of key infrastructure sectors — power, renewable energy, petroleum and natural gas, coal, and mining, the release said.

“In course of the presentation made by CEO NITI Aayog, it was noted that the installed power generation capacity in India has risen to 344 GW. India’s energy deficit, which stood at over four per cent in 2014, has shrunk to less than one per cent in 2018.

“Significant capacity additions have been made in transmission lines, transformer capacity and inter-regional transmission,” it said.

The release said that India now ranks 26th in the World Bank’s “Ease of Getting Electricity” Index, up from 99th in 2014.

The meeting reviewed progress in household electrification under the SAUBHAGYA initiative. Discussions also focused on last-mile connectivity and distribution, in both urban and rural areas.

“In the new and renewable energy sector, cumulative installed capacity has nearly doubled, from 35.5 GW in 2013-14 to about 70 GW in 2017-18. In solar energy, installed capacity has increased from 2.6 GW to 22 GW in the same period,” the release said.

Officials expressed confidence that the country is on track to comfortably achieve the target of 175 GW renewable energy capacity by 2022.

Modi urged the officials to work towards ensuring that the benefits from increase in solar energy capacity reach the farmers through appropriate interventions such as solar pumps and user-friendly solar cooking solutions.

The meeting noted that the targets set under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana will be comfortably achieved in the current financial year.

In the coal sector, discussions focused on further augmentation of production capacity, the release added.

The review meeting was attended by top officials from infrastructure-related Ministries, NITI Aayog and the Prime Minister’s Office.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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