Passion for growth, compassion for environment go together: Piyush Goyal

NEW DELHI: Listing preservation of environment a top priority for the government, Minister for Coal, Power and New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal today said the passion for growth and compassion for environment can go hand in hand.

On the occasion of the World Environment Day he tweeted, "Today is World Environment Day: Preservation, rejuvenation and restoration of environment is a top priority for us."

"I am confident that passion for growth and compassion for environment can go hand in hand," he said.

Goyal, 49, recently took charge as the Minister of State (independent charge) of the three ministries - Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy.

Goyal has previously been on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance and the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence during his stint as Rajya Sabha MP from Maharashtra.

He is son of senior BJP leader Vedprakash Goyal, who was the shipping minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government and National Treasurer of the BJP for over two decades.

Associated with the BJP since 1984, Goyal has held several positions in the party such as Member, National Executive, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. He has also served as the party's secretary in Mumbai and National Campaign Incharge for the Lok Sabha elections, 1991.