QUES. Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Comment on the progress made in India in this regard. UPSC 2018 GS MAINS PAPER III
HINTS:
Energy is a crucial resource to undertake developmental activities and advance living standards. However, if it is not affordable, reliable, sustainable and accessible, the goal of sustainable development will be hard to achieve. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) validates the same, wherein SDG-7 commits affordable and clean energy for all.
Progress made in India:
Affordable energy:
Electricity rates are subsidized for agriculture and poor households.
PAHAL (Pratyaksh Hastantrit Labh): all LPG subsidy beneficiaries to be linked to Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS). It reduces the opportunities of siphoning off the subsidized gas-cylinders in commercial restaurants. This increased availability of subsidized cylinder encourages poor families to switch from firewood and kerosene stoves.
Must read: Biofuel – Types and Generations
UJALA-Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All, which provides subsidized LED bulbs to households. This encourages families to switch from kerosene lanterns to electricity based lighting.
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala scheme: 5 crore LPG connections to women members of rural BPL households. It reduces their drudgery of firewood collection, and protects them from negative health-effect of smoke from wood or Kerosene based stoves.
Must read: Green energy
Saubhagaya- Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana. To provide last mile electricity connections to all remaining un-electrified households in rural & urban areas. The scheme includes installation of meter, wiring for a single LED bulb and a mobile charging point. If electricity pole is not available nearby from household then erection of additional pole also covered under the scheme.
Reliable energy:
UDAY – Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana in which State governments are encouraged to takeover the debt of Power Distribution companies (DISCOMs). So, that the Financially de-stressed DISCOMs can supply adequate power at affordable rates to poor families. If DISCOMs are suffering from heavy debt, they can’t improve and expand their network for supplying continuous electricity.
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana : It aims for 24/7 electricity to rural areas via separation of feeder lines for rural households & agriculture.
HELP- The new Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy 2017 : to increase the domestic production of oil and gas, thereby lessening the global price shocks on consumers.
Strengthening of sub-transmission & distribution infrastructure.
Sustainable energy:
Schemes subsidies for solar panels, lamps, irrigation pumps, biogas plants.
Small hydro projects, wind mills, biogas, bagassee.
Must read: Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA)
By the Green Grid initiative and International Solar Alliance, India is adopting and promoting better technology that is less polluting, more efficient and supports the agenda of sustainable development.
Must read: Importance of solar energy in future economic development of India
Modern energy:
To encourage families to switch from wood and kerosene to LPG.
To encourage families to switch from kerosene lamp to electrical lights.
Must read: COAL BED METHANE – CHARACTERISTICS , EXTRACTION AND PROSPECTS
Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga to lay gas pipelines and connect the western, northern and south-eastern gas markets with major gas sources. This will help setting up City Gas Distribution Networks in even small town, which will increase the access to CNG-gas stations and direct-to-home cooking gas lines.
The Ultra Mega Power Projects (4000MW each) with supercritical technology to achieve higher thermal efficiency.
India has also launched a Hydrogen mission and e-Vehicle plan for further innovation in affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy.
Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme: It aims to promote the adoption of electric vehicles in India.
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Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) – ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all – with its targets on universal access, energy efficiency and renewable energy, will open a new world of opportunity for billions of people. It will lay the foundation for the eradication of poverty, for climate action and for a sustainable world.
Thus, without progress on SDG 7, it seems impossible to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
External link: https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/sustainable-development-goals/why-do-sustainable-development-goals-matter/goal-7
