12-11-2005, 01:19 PM
<b>To face the future energy needs of India, we should explore all the possibilities. Given the geo political realities of the time, some of the sources will prove to be unreliable and some will be more dependable. We have to maintain a balance between the two and at the same time, we should develop our own source to the maximum extent. It is very easy to import energy and tide over the immediate crisis but it is very difficult to plan for the future.
In the past, India has played in the hands of the World Oil Lobby in determining its energy policy and so today we are dependent more on oil than we should have been in the normal course. One example of this had been the neglect of developing the freight carrying capacity of the railways and allowing freight movement instead by road. In a country like India, where we have a vast railway network and huge coal reserve and hydro potential to produce electricity , movement of freight by rail is the best it does not require importing of diesel for running the trucks. There are several such instances where we have played at the hands of the oil lobby. Of late we have realized this and now the railways are gearing up to meet the challenge.</b>
In the past, India has played in the hands of the World Oil Lobby in determining its energy policy and so today we are dependent more on oil than we should have been in the normal course. One example of this had been the neglect of developing the freight carrying capacity of the railways and allowing freight movement instead by road. In a country like India, where we have a vast railway network and huge coal reserve and hydro potential to produce electricity , movement of freight by rail is the best it does not require importing of diesel for running the trucks. There are several such instances where we have played at the hands of the oil lobby. Of late we have realized this and now the railways are gearing up to meet the challenge.</b>