Nov 30 2010
Six memorandums of agreement (MoUs) were signed between India and the United States focusing on disease detection, weather forecasts and clean energy technologies. At present 50% of the electricity generation is from fossil fuels with a small contribution from nuclear and hydro electricity.
For India to reach its goal of 62,000 MW by March 2012, the U.S. would assist India with unconventional energy sources such as biofuel, shale gas and solar energy.
President of USA
A Clean Energy Research and Development Centre has been planned with an investment of $5 million to be provided by both the countries, for a period of five years along with an equal investment by the private sector companies. High on the priority list would be solar energy, with bio-fuels a close second.
The MoU on shale gas requires the United States to evaluate the resources found in the Indian basins and also train Indian people to assess and appraise the resources.
According to the MoU for nuclear energy partnership, the two countries have decided to promote projects or plans that would intensify global nuclear security and also manage nuclear terrorism. They would also jointly participate in capacity amplification programs to attract states interested in human resource development, technology, education and training, thus give a boost to research and development in nuclear science in these regions.
The India-US Energy Cooperation Program (ECP), a joint association would collaborate with their respective governments to prop up energy efficiency and clean energy business.
With assistance from US, India will install a Monsoon desk to assess and evaluate an active seasonal forecast of monsoon rainfall in the Indian Summers, to get an insight into precipitation characteristics of the Indian Monsoon season. The US is to provide $1, 00,000 every year, while India would contribute $4, 80,000 for establishing and maintaining the monsoon desk, for a period of five years.
In the health sector plans are on for establishing a Global Disease Detection Centre within India, with help from Atlanta’s National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. This would incorporate mentoring of public health professionals, surveillance and monitoring infectious diseases, international health, training in epidemiology and also sharing the best methods for detecting and responding to emerging infections.