(a) whether the Government have decided to provide solar power supply immediately in each village of the country ;
(b) if so, the number of unelectrified villages in Maharashtra propose to be provided solar power supply during the current financial year ;
(c) the progress made so far in this regard ; and
(e) the amount earmarked for the purpose to Maharashtra?
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY SOURCES (SHRI M. KANNAPPAN)
(a),(b),(c)&(d): There are over 80,000 unelectrified villages in the country. Out of these about 18,000 villages are estimated to be located in the remote and difficult areas of the country, which can not be electrified through extension of the conventional grid- power. The Ministry has taken up a programme for electrification of these remote villages through renewable energy sources by the year 2012. Solar energy, biomass and small hydro power are the main non-conventional energy sources, which are likely to be used in the electrification of such villages. A target for electrifying 5,000 such villages has been fixed for the Tenth Plan period.
The renewable energy programmes in Maharashtra are being implemented by the Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA). During 2001-02, MEDA submitted a list of 307 unelectrified villages in the state. The Ministry has received a proposal from MEDA for the electrification of Sethbunder, Rajbunder and Morabunder hamlets of the Gharapuri Village on Elephanta Island in Maharashtra through the installation of a solar - wind hybrid system. The load estimates and other details are being firmed up by MEDA. No amount has been sanctioned yet for this project.