London: Three Indian organizations are among seven finalists short-listed for this year's prestigious Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy, globally known as the 'Green Oscars'.

The three finalists from India for the award, carrying a cash prize of 140,000 pounds, are IT Power, working in the Himalayan region, Prakratik Society engaged in the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve and Aurore from the international township of Auroville, a spokeswoman of the Ashden Awards announced last night (May 31, 2004).

The winners of the award will be chosen on June 24 at a ceremony to be held at the Royal Geographical Society.

The guest speakers on the occasion will be Sir David Attenborough, internationally renowned environmentalist and broadcaster and Jonathon Porrit, chair of the UK Government Sustainable Development Commission.

There are seven awards for projects within the developing world. Four first prizes of 30,000 pounds each and three runners-up prizes of 7,500 pounds each. The winning entries are "inspirational schemes that demonstrate the importance and relevance of appropriate energy technologies in improving people's quality of life, while Safeguarding the local environment and global climate", the spokeswoman said.

IT Power have done pioneering work in the Himalayan region by designing a unique way to modernize the old watermills using micro-hydro systems making them viable for Grinding flour, rice hulling and generating electricity.