Washington, Oct 7 (PTI) India has handled the current energy crisis in a responsible and mature manner, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said Thursday asserting that the Modi Government has not allowed energy shortages to affect any part of its population.

The minister said that there is a huge potential of India-US collaboration in the energy sector.

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“Today, when we talk about energy it suddenly assumes a different(connotation) … but I think this too shall pass. We have been able to navigate away past the challenges in what I think is a responsible and mature manner,” Puri said at a reception hosted in his honour by India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

“I don't think we've allowed energy shortages to affect any part of our population, including in parts of the Northeast which were undergoing heavy flooding. There were never any shortages, and we are confident of being able to take this forward,” Puri said addressing a select gathering at India House here.

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The minister is scheduled to meet the US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm for a bilateral dialogue on Friday.

“I think both sides are convinced that we will need to open a green corridor for looking at energy related issues as we go along,” said the top Indian minister.

Puri said the portfolio of energy in India and the US relationship has grown significantly.

“Today, when I deal with portfolios like energy .. one thing that has renewed my faith is that what India and the US can achieve together” he said.

Out of USD160 billion worth of annual bilateral trade, India imports USD20 billion worth of energy from the United States, he noted.

America's former Ambassador to India, Richard Verma, and General Atomics Chief Executive Vivek Lall were among those who attended the reception at India House, which is the official residence of India's top diplomat in the US.

The attendees included some of the eminent Indian American community members including Bharat Barai from Chicago, Darshan Singh Dhaliwal from Wisconsin, Ravi Batra from New York and Mahinder Tak and Jasdip from Maryland.

Puri, also the Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, said after Washington DC, he is headed to Houston for more energy from American companies, more greener fuels for transition to sustainable energy.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)