Participants at the Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas celebration held by JREDA. Picture by Hardeep Singh Ranchi, Aug. 20: Renewable energy sources need to be tapped to solve power problems in villages across the state. Speaking at the Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Samaroh organised at the Town Hall to mark the 64th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, the chairman of Jharkhand State Electricity Regulatory Commission (JSERC), Mukhtiyar Singh, said it was time to take action. The state should reduce its dependence on traditional sources of energy like coal and oil and switch over to the vast reserves of renewable energy like sun, wind and water. Renewable energy sources have the potential to generate power in the far-flung villages of the state. The present grid system fails to connect villages located in the rough terrain where it's difficult to place power lines and wires, the JSERC chairman said. Energy secretary N.N. Pandey said the present dependence and reckless exploitation of coal and oil comes with problems. Besides the rapid depletion of natural resources, these are a major cause for the green house effect responsible for global warming and drastic climatic changes. Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency director S.E.H. Kazmi pointed out that during the last fiscal 108 villages in East and West Singhbhum, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Latehar, Palamau and Garhwa have been provided with solar power that has benefited 11,000 families. "With this, the total number of villages enjoying solar energy in the state has gone up to 447 benefiting 38,332 families,' he said. Meanwhile, the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu, AICC secretary Abdul Mannan, party MLA Neil Tirkey and others paid tribute to Rajiv Gandhi at the Congress Bhavan on Shradhanand Road, Ranchi. The JPCC further flagged off a Nuclear Deal Commitment Rath from Subhash Chowk, Ranchi, which would tour the entire South Chhotanagpur division to educate the masses on the recently concluded nuclear deal. A total of five such nuclear deal raths were flagged off from the headquarters at North and South Chhotanagpur, Kolhan, Santhal Parganas and Palamau. The Jharkhand Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee, led by its president Pratibha Pandey observed Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary as Anti-terrorist Day. Women activists of the party took out a silent procession through the streets of Ranchi stressing on the need to combat terrorism.