On the occasion of National Energy Conservation Day 2025, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister for Agriculture, Farmers’ Empowerment, and Energy, attended a grand event held at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.
The event highlighted the importance of energy conservation and celebrated significant contributions to energy efficiency.
The celebration began in the morning with the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister flagging off an energy conservation awareness rally. The rally, which included students, teachers, and officials from the Energy Department, started from Gate No. 3 of Kalinga Stadium and concluded at Lok Seva Bhawan.
In his address, Deputy CM KV Singh Deo emphasised that energy conservation should be embraced not just as a habit, but as a national duty. He stressed the importance of implementing earthing in every home and the widespread adoption of smart meters, which have the potential to reduce energy losses.
Singh Deo further reiterated the Government of Odisha’s commitment to promoting energy efficiency and environmental stewardship, aligning with national missions focused on climate resilience and sustainable development.
The event also featured several distinguished guests, including Vishal Kumar Dev, Principal Secretary of Energy, who stated that while it is essential to increase energy generation, equal focus must be placed on energy conservation, which is the most economical and environmentally friendly approach. He highlighted that a pump storage policy is already in place and that new guidelines for floating solar projects have been issued, which could enhance Odisha’s renewable energy capacity across solar, wind, and hydro sectors.
Dr K. Murugesan, Director of the Centre for Environmental Studies, Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department, urged teachers to inspire and promote innovative thinking and ideas about energy conservation among students.
A. K. Tripathy, Former Director General of CPRI, stressed the importance of adding renewable energy capacity while ensuring grid stabilisation.
Manoj Kumar Tripathy, EIC-cum-PCEI(O), focused on the energy conservation efforts undertaken by the State Designated Agency (SDA) of Odisha.
During the ceremony, the Deputy Chief Minister honoured the winners of the Odisha State Energy Conservation Awards (OSECA) across various categories, including Captive Power Plants (CPP), Independent Power Producers (IPP), Steel & Power sectors, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and Educational Institutes.
A State-Level Quiz Competition was organised, featuring over 250,000 students who participated at both block and district levels across Odisha. Students from 8th, 9th, and 10th grades took part, and cash prizes of Rs. 8,000, Rs. 5,000, and Rs. 3,000 were awarded to the top three students, along with mementoes and certificates for others. Approximately 500 participants attended the State-Level Function at Lok Seva Bhawan, where they also received prizes and awards.
In conclusion, Ashok Kumar Das, Chief Engineer, expressed his gratitude to all the dignitaries and participants. On this day, every speaker emphasised that “energy saved is energy generated.”
