Ramesh slams corporates for not tapping green tech

Criticising big corporates for their reluctance in tapping renewable energy sources, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh today said they must change their "conservative approach" and the real job of developing green technology has to be done by the corporate sector.

"Companies are conservative in their approach towards the solar energy. I don't know why they are so conservative," the Minister said and added if 100 big companies were going to do this, it will set an example for the rest of the world.

Addressing a session on "Building Green Economy" here, Ramesh also said India must emerge as technological leader in the green economy.

"We have no shortage of companies who can be world leaders in this area," he said citing India's past experience in solar energy when it was among the world leaders in the sector.

"India should not be a technology buyer. India should be a technology supplier to the rest of the world," Ramesh said.

He said the government's objective is to gernerate 20,000 Mw solar power by the year 2020.

Defining the idea of green economy, Ramesh said it is an economy that protects and enhance the value of national ecosystems by meeting its economic potentials.

"First and foremost the green economy is a matter of livelihood. In the west, it is a matter of lifestyles. For us it is a matter of livelihood," the Minister said.

"Unless we protect our livelihood, unless we improve the value of our livelihood, we are not going to be able to make our economic growth inclusive," he said.