(a) whether the Government propose to chalk out a plan to develop Non-Conventional Energy Sources villages in all the States and Union Territories keeping in mind the shortage of conventional energy source in the country ;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI VILAS MUTTEMWAR)
(a) & (b): The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources is implementing a set of programmes for promoting use of non-conventional energy sources for meeting various energy needs in rural areas in the country. The Programmes are :
i) The Remote Village Electrification Programme which aims at electrification of remote unelectrified census villages where grid connectivity is likely to be either not feasible or not cost effective. So far, 1944 villages have been electrified under the Programme.
ii) The Integrated Rural Energy Programme which envisages taking up 2-3 clusters of villages in each district for preparation and implementation of energy plans for meeting energy needs for different purposes in the most cost effective and environment friendly manner. 333 such clusters of villages have been taken up since 2003-04 in 20 States and Union Territories.
iii) A set of test projects are also being implemented for demonstrating the concept of village energy security in remote unelectrified villages primarily using locally available biomass materials. The basic objective is to meet the total energy requirements including cooking, lighting and motive power. So far, 24 test projects have been taken up in 3 States.
(c): Does not arise.