In what could be termed a sign of the stalemate over the Indo-US nuclear deal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did not utter a word about the controversial nuclear deal while laying the foundation stone of Rajiv Gandhi Urja Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.
The prime minister said there was a need to develop our energy resources like coal, gas, oil, hydro and nuclear along with renewables such as wind and solar power. He said there were many options of using alternative fuels and technologies.
Singh said, "From a long-term perspective, nuclear energy and solar energy can play an important role in addressing our energy security needs. Our government is committed to the development of nuclear energy."
He admitted that India could use solar energy which was available in abundance.
"The immediate need is to develop these technologies to make such energy available to the masses in the shortest possible time," he added. He pointed out that the non-conventional sources or energy should be made commercially viable.
He expressed his concern over the country's rising oil import bills. United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dinsha Patel, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Tejinder Khanna, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit also spoke on the occasion.