GUWAHATI, Sept 6 - Engineers in general, and chemical engineers in particular, have an immense role to play in fulfilling the dreams of sustainable development goals (SDGs) as Assam was among the first few states to have incorporated SDGs with governance a few years back.
This was stated by Governor Professor Jagdish Mukhi while inaugurating the 35th �National Convention of Chemical Engineers on Food-Energy-Water Nexus: Challenges for Chemical Engineers� at the Institution of Engineers here today. He highlighted the need to lay emphasis on the goals such as zero hunger, clean water, sanitation and affordable and clean energy.
He appreciated the local organiser Assam State Centre of the Institution of Engineers (India) for incorporating these three goals in the focal theme of the national convention in the form of �food-energy-water nexus�.
Prof Mukhi said, �Energy for all cannot be a reality if we continue with our dependence on fossil fuels and traditional sources of energy. We have a 175 Giga Watt renewable energy target to meet by the year 2022. So, development and utilisation of renewable energy sources is a foregone conclusion in this scenario. Assam is blessed with huge water resources for creating hydropower projects; it has at least 200 plus sunny days for solar power projects; and wind and biomass energy are also no less in the State.�
The Governor also said that water has deep linkages with agriculture and energy resources. He however expressed concern that growing population, rapid urbanisation and impact of climate change are responsible for degradation and scarcity of water. He also said that considering the history of development of science and technology in the present century and beyond, a large part of this history will be credited to the establishment, propagation and contribution of the Institution of Engineers (India) that was established in 1920.
He urged all stakeholders of the convention to keep in mind the national priorities, aspirations of the common people and the clarion call from the ecology and environment to put forward their agenda of national development by championing the cause of sustainable development goals.
On the occasion, the Governor also conveyed his sincere gratitude to the president of IEI for bestowing upon him the Honorary Fellowship.
President of the Institution of Engineers (India) Dr TM Gunaraja; Chairman, Chemical Engineering Division Board S Rajagopal; Chairman, Assam State Centre of IEI Dr SK Kakoty; convenor of the technical committee Dr AK Misra; senior corporate members; researchers and students; invited guests; young engineer award winners and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
