India needs to be energy independent to serve people's need: Modi

New Delhi, March 27 (IANS) Stressing on energy security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India will have to be independent in this area and seek new avenues to replenish existing sources in a bid to serve the growing appetite of the people.

"We need to be independent when it comes to providing our people with energy," Modi said, while inaugurating the "Urja Sangam - 2015" conference on energy security at the Vigyan Bhavan exposition complex here.

He also pitched for people who are well off to surrender their fuel subsidy entitlement.

"People who don't need LPG subsidy and those who are capable of managing without it should give it up. I ask you to join this movement. Give up gas subsidy. Create a record. The subsidy that you will give up will go a long way in benefitting the poor people."

People are already giving up their subsidy, Modi said, and added that "over 2.8 lakh consumers have surrendered LPG subsidy, resulting in a saving of Rs.100 crore to the exchequer".

Modi said that the government aims to provide piped cooking gas, which currently serves 27 lakh households, to one crore households in the next four years.