13 August :National Function of Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas – 2008 is being organized at Panchkula on 20th August, 2008 under the sponsorship of Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for this year. Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA), Government of Haryana is hosting the function. The main attractions of the function are Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja National Marathon (20 kms. for men and women), Renewable Energy Rally and Renewable Energy Pledge by about 50,000 school students.
Tha prime attraction of this year’s celebration is a rally of battery-operated vehicles (two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four wheelers), developed and manufactured in India. The battery-operated vehicle rally is being organized for the first time in India and will have a unique impact in clean and green city of Panchkula and Chandigarh. This will attract people to go for battery operated vehicles which are environmentally clean.
Shri Vilas Muttemwar, State Minister for New and Renewable Energy felt the need of mass campaign and wide publicity about renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass and hydro and initiated a wide publicity campaign including celebration of Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas on 20th August every year. Rallies, human chains / runs, competitions such as essay writing, painting, quizzes, debates etc. are organised on the theme of new and renewable energy in all the districts, national capital, the state capitals and other major cities in the country.
Dr. N.P. Singh, Adviser, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy held today discussions with State Government officials and informed that more than 4,000 athletes from all over India are likely to take part in Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja National Marathon.