Manmohan Singh asks Planning Commission to organise clean energy ministerial in April

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked the Planning Commission to organise the fourth clean energy ministerial on April 17-18, a directive that comes as part of entrusting the advisory body a nodal role in implementing the government’s multi-pronged efforts on renewable energy.

The event, to be inaugurated by the prime minister, will be attended by energy ministers from 20 countries including the US, UK, Japan, China and Canada. “India, for the first time, is hosting the CEM, which will provide the basis for several future initiatives for clean energy and climate change,” said Planning Commission energy-advisor AK Jain, about the annual event which has been held earlier in Washington DC, Abu Dhabi and London.

The ministerial signifies the commission’s first major direct involvement in clean energy, an official said, adding that the prime minister felt the need for a coordinating agency after seven of the eight missions under the national action plan on climate change did not take off as planned due to interdepartmental stalemates.