Modi inaugurates electric bus service for MPs

New Delhi: Terming the negative impact of environment pollution as a challenge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said there is a need to harness solar energy.

"Discussions of environment have been taking for long, but for the last few years, its negative impact has been felt on normal human lives... There is a challenge before the mankind to find a solution to this problem," Modi said.

He was speaking at an event where he flagged off an electric bus, gifted by the Road Transport and Highways Ministry to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, to ferry MPs at Parliament.

He was clear that the countries are going to work to harness solar energy.

Referring to the recent CoP-21 summit in Paris, Modi highlighted two significant initiatives -- Mission Innovation launched jointly by the US, France and India, with the help of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, on development of green technologies and the creation of the International Solar Alliance of countries with abundant sunlight.

The headquarters of this alliance will be in Delhi, the Prime Minister said.

"There are 122 nations which get the benefit of sunrays for more than 300 days in a year. With India's initiative, an organization of such nations has been formed," Modi said.

Resolutions in Paris by world leaders include work on innovation to get fossil fuel-free energy, Modi added.

"US, France and India have taken initiatives for innovation. The Bill Gates Foundation has also been associated with it. A positive result will come by," he hoped.

Congratulating Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on his contribution to environment and technology leading to the refurbished bus with no pollution, the PM suggested that the technology can be used in public transport as well.

Such buses would "not only significantly contribute in minimising pollution, but would encourage younger generation to come into research and making of batteries".

"MPs will benefit from it. New generation can come forward in 'Start up India' and 'Stand up India' and contribute to initiatives like making batteries," he said.

Modi saw a need for research to enhance battery life and said such initiatives under 'Make in India' will not just benefit the country, but the whole world as well.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar was also present.