Question : SOLAR LAMPS

(a) the details of the programmes/ schemes formulated by Government to exploit solar energy in the rural areas of the country along with the present status of electrified and non-electrified villages through solar energy;

(b) the details of funds allocated and utilized for the purpose during the last three years and current year, State/UT-wise;

(c) the details of subsidies being provided for solar lamps in the remote and rural areas of the country, especially rural settlements located in interiors with limited electricity connectivity;

(d) the number of beneficiaries under this programme during the last three years and current year, State/UT-wise; and

(e) whether the Government has notified any specification for purchase of solar lamps, if so, the details thereof along with list of qualified vendors for supply of such lamps?

MINISTER FOR NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (DR. FAROOQ ABDULLAH)

(a),(b)&(c):Under the Off-grid and Decentralized Solar Applications Scheme of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy is providing a subsidy of 30% of the project cost subject to a maximum of Rs. 81 per Wp for installation of solar lanterns, home lights, street lights, water pumping systems, lantern charging stations and stand alone power plants upto a Photovoltaic (PV) module capacity of 100 kWp in rural areas in general category States. Under the scheme, the Ministry provides 90% of the cost of the Solar street lights and off-grid PV power plants limited to a maximum of Rs. 243/- per Wp in Special Category States for installation by Central and State Government Ministries, Departments and their organizations, State Nodal Agencies and Local Bodies. The Ministry also provides a subsidy of 40% of the cost of the system limited to Rs. 108/- per Wp for solar lanterns, home lights and small capacity PV systems having module capacity up to 210 Wp through NABARD, Regional Rural Banks and Commercial Banks. The Ministry is also providing a subsidy of 30% of the project cost limited to Rs. 150/- per Wp for installation of Solar PV power plants with micro/ mini-grid systems in rural areas to meet unmet demand of electricity.

Under the Remote Village Electrification Programme of the Ministry 10,095 remote villages and hamlets have been provided with solar photovoltaic lighting system in the country.

No State-wise allocation of funds has been made for the solar lights and off-grid SPV power plants in rural areas. State-wise funds released for the solar lighting systems and power plants in rural areas during the last three years and current year is given at Annexure-I.

(d):State-wise list of solar lanterns, home lights and street lights in the last three years and current year is given at Annexure-II.

(e):The Ministry has brought out specifications for CFL and LED based solar lanterns, home lights and street lights. List of qualified vendors for supply of these systems under the Off-grid and Decentralized Solar Applications Scheme is given at Annexure-III.