The award is given for exceptional support and cooperation extended by govt. for various conservation activities organized by the state level coordinator during OGCF 2013.
Andhra Pradesh has won the prestigious award for its outstanding performance during the Oil & Gas Conservation Fortnight (OGCF).
The Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Govt. of India, has selected the state for the Award of "Best Performing State Amongst The Big States" for its Oil & Gas Conservation programmes.
PCRA of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Govt. of India, has been organizing the Oil & Gas Conservation Fortnight between 16th to 31st January every year.
The Award is given for exceptional support and cooperation extended by the government for various conservation activities organized by the State Level Coordinator during OGCF 2013.
The Award will be presented by Dr. M Veerappa Moily, Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, during the inaugural function of OGCF 2014 to be held in New Delhi on January 16, 2014.
It is pertinent to note that the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) plans to invest over $ 9 billion in a wide array of oil & gas discoveries in the block allotted to it in Krishna - Godavari Basin, which will enhance the scope of the state to get additional gas allocations to cater to the needs of the gas based power plants, with an overall capacity of more than 2000 MW that are lying idle for want of gas allocations.
Disclosing the above details Dr. P K Mohanty, Chief Secretary & Chairperson/State Energy Conservation Mission, in a meeting with Sunil Sharma, Commissioner, Civil Supplies and other senior officials, stated that water, energy and environment are the 3 key factors essential for human survival.
"It is the primary, social responsibility of every individual to protect precious natural resources like coal, oil, Gas and water for the sake of future generations," he said.
Inspired by the recent prestigious awards won by the state, the goverment aims at becoming a role model to other states in adopting measures for conservation and efficient use of resources and to protect environment.
In addition, adoption of a series of oil conservation measures will help the country save billions of Dollars since India imports more than 80 % of its crude.
This would also help in reduction of Carbon footprint in view of the Oil conservation initiatives being taken up by Government of Andhra Pradesh.
Dr. Mohanty emphasized that activities related to the conservation of natural resources and energy shall go together, along with the energy efficiency activities that are required for the progressive economic growth of the state.
Mohanty cited an example of as to how a century ago a typical motor car consumed 1 litre of petrol to travel 6km, but now a typical family car consumes just 0.25 to 0.40 liters of petrol to travel same distance.
While referring to the activities in the developed countries, he said that even USA, through its "Energy Independence and Security Act", set a goal for the national fuel economy standard of 35 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2020, to save the United States billions of gallons of fuel, and through continuous R&D activities in fuel economy and energy efficiency will be able to lighten the burden of imports on the country enormously and ultimately pave way for protection of environment.
On this occasion, the CS thanked the AP print and electronic media for extending continuous support to the pro-public initiatives like energy conservation activities and praised the media in spreading the "holy message" of energy conservation and environment protection to each and every house hold in the state. (INN)