Aligarh, (IANS) In order to cater to the ever growing energy needs of the country, the central government will launch a solar mission next month and the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) may also set up a separate department of renewable energy, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah said.

Abdullah said that the government will launch a solar mission to mark the birth anniversary of India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru Nov 14.

‘Our country imports petrol, oil, coal and millions of rupees are spent on it but enormous resources of solar and wind energy remains unused. The government has decided to tap these natural resources and AMU can play an important role by setting up a renewable energy department,’ Abdullah said while speaking at the at Sir Syed commemoration meeting here Saturday.

Vice Chancellor of AMU P.K. Abdul Azis said that the University is on resurgent track.

Azis informed that the university has been able to get Rs.185 crore for various development initiatives during the eleventh plan. He added that the AMU was the 8th ranking university in the country in terms of research publications. The government of India has granted Rs.9 crore for the promotion of advanced research in the university, he added.

-- IANS