Gadkari flags fossil fuel dependence risks, pushes green energy shift

Nagpur: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday warned that India is facing both economic and environmental crises due to its heavy dependence on fossil fuel imports and stressed the urgent need to shift towards alternative and indigenous energy sources.Addressing an international AI conference on climate resilience, green innovation and sustainable development in Nagpur, Gadkari said the country spends nearly Rs22 lakh crore annually on importing fossil fuels, putting a significant burden on the economy, while also contributing to pollution."Without reducing fossil fuel imports, we cannot achieve the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat," he said. Gadkari said India is the fastest-growing economy in the world, but emphasised that future growth must be rooted in "ethics, economy, ecology and environment". He underlined that sustainable development cannot be achieved without protecting natural resources and adopting region-specific solutions.Highlighting the gap between academia and real-world implementation, Gadkari expressed concern over the limited involvement of universities and engineering colleges in practical problem-solving. "There is no coordination between universities, research organisations and people at the district level. That is the biggest challenge," he said, urging institutions to contribute directly to socioeconomic development.Gadkari also called for performance audits of educational institutions to assess their contribution to the society. "If technology, knowledge and research are not improving the lives of common people, then what is the use of such investment?" he questioned.Gadkari pointed to biofuels such as ethanol, methanol, biodiesel and bio-CNG as cost-effective, pollution-free and locally available solutions. He said converting agricultural waste like rice straw into bio-CNG can not only reduce pollution caused by stubble burning, but also generate economic value.The minister pointed to the immense potential of artificial intelligence, or AI, in agriculture, particularly in Vidarbha. He said AI-based interventions can significantly boost crop yield, citing examples where output could increase multiple times through data-driven farming practices. Gadkari revealed that efforts are underway to onboard nearly 1,000 orange growers in the region to adopt AI, with around 500 already in the process.Gadkari said major investments, including a ₹10,000 crore project by Mahindra Group in Butibori, present opportunities for job creation. He urged academic institutions to align their curriculum with industry needs to produce skilled manpower.Gadkari also spoke about ongoing experiments to convert carbon dioxide into fuels like methanol and ethanol, calling it a "need of the hour" in tackling climate change and energy challenges simultaneously.He urged research institutions, IITs and engineering colleges to focus on practical innovations that address India's energy needs using locally available raw materials. "The future lies in converting knowledge into wealth through innovation, research and entrepreneurship," he said.