Our dream is to make Gandhinagar a solar city –Shri Narendra Modi

Published By : Admin | January 22, 2011 | 05:37 IST

There will be a time when a person in Gandhinagar with his house would be able to generate solar power on his roof top, and the government will be there to buy it. This would help to earn extra income for the people of Gandhinagar, said Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi while dedicating 1 MW demonstration solar power plant at Pandit Dindayal Petroleum University near Gandhinagar.

“We have commissioned this project in 106 days. The coast incurred is Rs. 15 crore. This is world's first solar project where three types of technologies are present. This is the first project that can be monitored from any part of the world. One would be able to monitor how much power is being generated from remote place,” Shri Modi said.

“This only one project would generate 15 lakh unit power annually. The human kind will be saved from generation of 1500 ton carbon dioxide annually due to usage of this plant,” he added.

“This facility can provide power to 1500 plus Air Conditioned houses. Our dream is to make Gandhinagar a solar city. We are going ahead in that direction. There will be a time when each person would be able to generate power on roof top and the government would buy it. This will be an extra income for the people of Gandhinagar.”

Shri Modi said the project is important because it will be helpful for human resource development. It is also important because it's an example of generating solar power in Indian condition.

While dedicating The Institute of Seismological Research in Gandhinagar, Shri Narendra Modi today said that the first decade of 21st century is a decade of institutes in Gujarat.

“In 1960s there was a time when major institutes were established in Gujarat. This includes institutes like ISRO and IIM. But after 1960s this trend was not as strong. However the 21st century's first decade 2001-10 is an era of institutions.”

“Two days back I went to Hyderabad. The people were excited the way we are using Bhaskaracharya institute of satellite (BISAG) in the state. We received an award of best satellite technology user state.”

“I just took a round of seismology institute and I can say that this institute will give a great contribution to the world in the area of Seismology. We had IIT, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University where we are sitting at present, and a long list of universities in this decade. This is an era of institutionalization.”

“Good governance cannot be driven by an individual. Good governance means to institutionalize the idea. And Gujarat has attempted to institutionalized each idea. We are doing this in one corner of India, but I am satisfied that after all we are contributing this to the nation.”

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi further said “When Gujarat was hit by major earthquake in 2001 and responsibility of post-earth quake works was on my shoulder, I requested then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee for setting up a Seismological institute in Gujarat, and the central government gave us assurance of providing Rs. 200 crore for this purpose, but it was unfortunate that subsequent government had opinion that this was not needed.”

“I told central government that fine if they didn't want to do in Gujarat (because it is BJP ruled), but they could at least set up such institute somewhere else in the country if not in Gujarat, may be in Congress ruled state. However it is unfortunate that those in centre don't have longer vision.”

“Here I am not giving a political comment. But I want to make a point that there's strength in science, and that has to be recognized well. Our young boys are doing good research. They the youths involved in scientific research know that they are not going to get coverage in newspaper or magazine of their works, but they are working with great spirit because they know their hard work will serve the society. If this institute of seismology was set up by central govt, I could be happier. After the central govt escaped from this project, I had to make choice whether I should do this or drop the project, but it was God that asked me to go ahead with the project, and I have done it. The institute is here with the best facilities on ground to serve the nation and the world.”

While inaugurating ‘the International Symposium on the 2001 Bhuj Earthquake and Advances in Earthquake Science' at Raisan campus of The Institute of Seismological Research on Saturday, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi asked researchers to come to Gujarat to do PhD on post-earthquake works in Gujarat.

“I want to give a message that if any university youth from Gujarat or outside the state, wants to study earthquake rehabilitation, policy framework and related issues for doing PhD, this is the time to do such research work,” Shri Modi said adding that such research would be a great help to future generations.

Shri Modi also offered to become host and sponsor of the students wanting to do PhD on post-Gujarat earthquake related issues.

He said, “the Gujarat government will arrange an accommodation for such students and will also provide scholarship to encourage research in this area.”

Shri Modi said such research would also possibly throw light on Gujarat government's shortcomings in the area of post-earthquake works, however that too will be helpful for future.

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My greetings to all young friends!

The beginning of the year 2026 is marking the start of new joys in your lives. Along with this, as Vasant Panchami passed just yesterday, a new spring is beginning in your lives as well. This time is also connecting you with your duties towards the Constitution. Coincidentally, the grand festival of the Republic is currently underway in the country. Yesterday, on January 23rd, we celebrated Parakram Diwas on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash, and now tomorrow, January 25th, is National Voters' Day, followed by Republic Day on January 26th. Today is also a special day. It was on this very day that our Constitution adopted ‘Jana Gana Mana’ as the National Anthem and ‘Vande Mataram’ as the National Song. On this significant day today, more than sixty-one thousand youngsters are making a new beginning in life.

Today, you all are receiving appointment letters for government services; in a way, this is an Invitation Letter for Nation Building. This is a resolution letter to give momentum to the construction of a Developed India. Many among you will strengthen the security of the country, many will further empower our education and healthcare ecosystem, many friends will strengthen financial services and energy security, while many youth will play an important role in the growth of our government companies. I give many congratulations and best wishes to all of you youth.

​Friends,

​Connecting youth with skills and providing them opportunities for employment and self-employment has been the priority of our government. To ensure that government recruitment is also done in mission mode, the Rozgar Mela was started. In the past years, the Rozgar Mela has become an institution. Through this, lakhs of youth have received appointment letters in different departments of the government. Extending this mission further, today this Rozgar Mela is being held at more than forty locations in the country. I especially welcome the youth present at all these locations.

​Friends,

​Today, India is one of the youngest countries in the world. It is the continuous effort of our government that new opportunities are created for India’s youth power within the country and across the world. Today, the Government of India is signing trade and mobility agreements with many countries. These trade agreements are bringing numerous new opportunities for the youth of India.

​Friends,

​In the past time, India has made unprecedented investments for modern infrastructure. Because of this, employment has increased significantly in every sector related to construction. The scope of India’s start-up ecosystem is also advancing at a fast pace. Today, there are about two lakh registered start-ups in the country. More than twenty-one lakh youth are working in these. Similarly, Digital India has expanded a new economy. In many fields such as animation and digital media, India is becoming a global hub. India’s creator economy is growing at a very fast pace, and in this too, youth are getting new opportunities.

​My young friends,

​The way the world’s trust in India is increasing today is also creating many new possibilities for the youth. India is the only large economy in the world that has doubled its GDP in a decade. Today, more than a hundred countries are investing in India through FDI. Compared to the ten years before 2014, more than two and a half times the FDI has come into India. More foreign investment means countless opportunities for employment for the youth of India.

​Friends,

​Today, India is becoming a big manufacturing power. In many sectors such as electronics, medicines and vaccines, defense, and auto, there is an unprecedented increase in both India’s production and exports. Since 2014, there has been a six-fold increase in India’s electronics manufacturing, six-fold. Today, this is an industry of more than 11 lakh crore rupees. Our electronics export has also crossed four lakh crore rupees. India’s auto industry has also become one of the fastest-growing sectors. In the year 2025, the sale of two-wheelers has reached beyond two crores. This shows that the purchasing power of the people of the country has increased; they have received many benefits from the reduction in Income Tax and GST; there are many such examples which indicate that employment is being created in large numbers in the country.

​Friends,

​In today's event, more than 8 thousand daughters have also received appointment letters. In the past 11 years, there has been nearly a two-fold increase in women's participation in the country's workforce. Our daughters have benefited greatly from the government's schemes like Mudra and Start-up India. There has been an increase of about 15 percent in the rate of women's self-employment. If I talk about start-ups and MSMEs, today there is a very large number of women directors and women founders. In our cooperative sector, and the self-help groups working in villages, women are leading in very large numbers.

​Friends,

​Today the country has set out on the Reform Express. Its objective is to make both life and business easy in the country. Everyone has benefited from the next-generation reforms in GST. Through this, our young entrepreneurs are benefiting, and our MSMEs are benefiting. Recently, the country has implemented historic labor reforms. Through this, laborers, employees, and businesses will all benefit. The new labor codes have further strengthened the scope of social security for laborers and employees.

​Friends,

​Today, when the Reform Express is being discussed everywhere, I want to assign a task to you as well regarding this subject. Recall, in the last five-seven years, when and in what form have you had contact with the government? Whether you had work in some government office, or interacted through some other medium and you faced trouble, felt some deficiency, or felt some irritation - just remember such things. Now you have to decide that those things which troubled you, sometimes troubled your parents, sometimes troubled your friends, and what used to pinch you, feel bad, or make you angry - now you will not let those difficulties happen to other citizens during your own tenure. Being a part of the government, you too will have to carry out small reforms at your level. You have to move forward with this approach so that the maximum number of people are benefited.

The work of strengthening Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business happens as much through policy as it does through the intention of the government employee working at the local level. You must remember one more thing. In this era of rapidly changing technology, the needs and priorities of the country are also changing rapidly. You also have to keep upgrading yourself along with this fast change. You must definitely make good use of platforms like iGOT Karmayogi. I am happy that in such a short time, about one and a half crore government employees are training and empowering themselves anew by joining this iGOT platform.

​Friends,

​Whether it is the Prime Minister or a small servant of the government, we are all servants and we all have one common mantra; in that, no one is above, nor is anyone to the right or left, and for all of us, for me as well as for you, which is that mantra - "Nagrik Devo Bhava" (The Citizen is God). We have to work with the mantra of "Nagrik Devo Bhava"; you also keep doing so. Once again, this new spring that has come into your life, this new era of life is beginning, and it is through you that a developed India is going to be built in 2047. Many best wishes to you from my side. Thank you very much.