Lucknow, Jun 5 (PTI) Citing the success of indigenous weapons in Operation Sindoor, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday emphasised the need for self-reliance in the energy, fuel, and technology sectors.
Singh also lauded India’s ethanol-blended fuel programme for strengthening the country’s preparedness to deal with the energy crisis linked to the West Asia conflict.
While addressing an event organised by ‘Bioyug’ in Lucknow on ‘World Environment Day’. Singh said, “Last year, following the cowardly attack in Pahalgam, our three armed forces jointly executed Operation Sindoor. We carried out precision strikes to dismantle the terror infrastructure based in Pakistan. We annihilated both the terrorists and their patrons,” “We were able to achieve this because our morale was high. We possessed indigenous weapons and were not dependent on other nations. We must attain similar capability (self-reliance) in the sectors of energy, fuel, and technology, and I am confident that we will achieve this,” he added.
Singh also said that environment-related initiatives are not merely about cleanliness, but also about boosting the morale of the armed forces.
“When our cantonment areas are clean, diseases decrease, leading to prosperity and a boost in the morale of our soldiers. Operation Sindoor is one such example of this boosted morale,” Singh said.
Singh praised India’s preparedness in tackling the energy crisis, citing its move towards ethanol-blended fuel.
“Today in India, 20 per cent ethanol is being blended with petrol. This ethanol is produced right here from our own sugarcane and crops. When a crisis struck West Asia and oil prices skyrocketed, it caused global turmoil. However, India was able to withstand that shock relatively well because we produced 20 per cent of our fuel, ethanol, domestically,” he said.
“That 20 per cent served as a buffer for us, shielding our economy from significant damage. You see, biofuel is not merely protecting the environment, it is also becoming a powerful tool for our national security and economic stability,” Singh said.
“We need to build our domestic capacity and establish supply chains linked to indigenous resources. We have to create alternatives from our own land, farmers, resources, and scientific talent that keep our economy moving even during times of crisis,” he added.
He further said that resources generated from sugarcane, crops, and organic waste not only strengthen India’s security shield but also help protect the environment.
“In other words, while fulfilling our environmental obligations, we can move towards self-reliance, Singh said. “We understand that no global power can ever bring a nation to its knees if it generates energy from its own fields,” he added.
Singh further said the role of environmental sustainability becomes significant in attaining self-reliance.
“This is where the roles of biofuels, biomaterials, and the bio-economy become crucial. They are not limited to ‘Save the Environment’ slogans. Rather, they form the robust foundation of an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, a foundation upon which we can stand firm and resolutely confront any external pressure,” the minister said.
Calling plastic a necessary evil, Singh said, “The need of the hour is to strip away the ‘evil’ and make it nature-friendly. The step taken today by Balrampur Chini Mills in this direction is a commendable initiative. I am pleased to learn that you are producing PLA (Poly-lactic Acid) from sugarcane. PLA is a type of bioplastic that is completely biodegradable. It merges with the soil over time. Nature itself digests it.” He said that PLA is one of the cheapest bioplastics in the world, which can be turned into compost rather than waste, thereby enhancing soil fertility.
“In essence, it offers benefits all around for our farmers, the nation, and the environment,” he said.
Drawing the attention of his audience towards West Asia, the defence minister said, “You all are witnessing the current situation in the Middle East. Supply chains remained disrupted for a considerable period, affecting numerous plastic companies that were unable to procure raw materials. However, producing bioplastics from sugarcane will reduce our dependence on foreign sources.” He added that the Uttar Pradesh government is promoting the manufacturing of bioplastics through its bioplastics industry policy.
Singh said the market for bioplastics is continuously expanding and added that its potential should be harnessed to protect the environment from inappropriate exploitation.
Rajnath Singh also observed that Uttar Pradesh has transformed and is moving beyond ‘Baahubali Yug’ (era of muscle power), to ‘BioYug’ (bio era).
“Uttar Pradesh has transformed today. There has been a significant increase in sugarcane prices, and the bio-economy is being promoted. Moving beyond the ‘Baahubali Yug’ (era of muscle power), the conversation today is about ‘BioYug’ (bio era). This transformation is the result of the strong double-engine government, under the guidance of our prime minister and the strong leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath,” Singh said.
Speaking about Cantonment Boards, Rajnath Singh said, “If I speak about Cantonment Boards or Defence Estates, we all know how vast and significant their scope is. This can be understood simply by the fact that, today, our Defence Estates manage approximately 18 lakh acres of defence land. And I think that this is no ordinary responsibility; it is a massive one.” “This is because our defence lands are not merely patches of land; rather, they form a foundation (‘buniyaad’) of our defence mechanism. Furthermore, our Cantonment Boards are setting an example of good governance,” he added. PTI NAV KSI KSI
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