Kolkata, August 28: The National Solar Mission, targeting 20 gigawatt of solar power generation capacity by 2020, is likely to be unveiled by the Union government on November 14.
“It is before the government and we are aiming to complete the process by November 14,” prime minister’s special envoy Shyam Saran said here today on the sidelines of an environment and energy conclave organised by Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The final draft of the Mission had been approved by the government in April. The necessary legislative and regulatory changes to make it effective would likely to be completed soon, Saran said.
Several initiatives were taken to harness solar energy to the tune of 20 GW by 2020 to reduce impact on fossil fuel and reducing greenhouse effect. The government has suggested to make solar power purchase obligatory between one and three per cent for power utilities.
Currently, it is voluntary and has been adopted by a few states like West Bengal.
Highlighting the coming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December, Saran said, developed nations deviated from commitments made in earlier meets.
“The proposals the developing countries are giving are major departures from the previous conventions. They are trying to make developing countries’ commitments legally binding which is not accepted by the developing nations including China,” Saran said.
—Agencies