Nitin Gadkari says talks with Power Ministry under way

The Central government proposes to generate low-cost wind power from Thoothukudi, Kandla and Paradip ports, said Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Nitin Gadkari while addressing graduates at the 34th convocation of the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) on Saturday.

He said discussions with the Union Power Minister had been held already and the move would help establish desalination plants to solve drinking water problems, besides producing power at a cost of only ₹2.50 per unit. The Minister distributed medals and certificates to meritorious students. As many as 6,768 students, both undergraduates and postgraduates, along with 247 researchers received their certificates.

Chancellor G. Viswanathan said, VIT had been running ‘Support The Advancement of Rural Students (STARS)’ programme by providing free education to toppers of class XII government examination (two students) from each district of Tamil Nadu. He said though the institution had been recognized as one of the ten institutions of eminence, his dream was to someday make it attain international standards of eminence.

Vice-chancellor Anand A. Samuel, vice-presidents Sankar Viswanathan, Sekar Viswanathan and G.V. Selvam, executive director Sandhya Pentareddy and assistant vice-president Kadhambari S. Viswanathan also participated.