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New Delhi, Jan 11 (ANI): Inaugurating the ‘Jawaharlal Nehru Solar Mission’ on Monday, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh called upon creation of Solar Valleys on the lines of Silicon Valleys, and asked the industrial groups to sight the mission as a huge business prospect.

Dr Singh said, ” This Solar Mission has the pride of place in India’s National Action Plan on climate change. Its success has the potential of transforming India’s energy prospects, and contributing also to national as well as global efforts to combat climate change.”

“This mission is one of the major priorities of the second term of our government and I congratulate Dr. Abdullah and my other colleagues particularly Shyam Saran, for the work they have done in bringing this to fruition,” he added.

Dr Singh further said, “Increased use of solar energy is a central component of our strategy to bring about a strategic shift from our current reliance on fossil fuels to a pattern of sustainable growth based on renewable and clean sources of energy.”

“The importance of this mission is not just limited to providing large-scale grid connected power. It has the potential to provide significant multipliers in our efforts for transformation of India’s rural economy.” he added.

Dr Singh said, “The rapid spread of solar lighting systems, solar water pumps and other solar power-based rural applications can change the face of India’s rural economy. We intend to significantly expand such applications through this Mission.”

“The target of 20,000 MW of solar generating capacity by the end of the 13th Five Year Plan is no doubt an ambitious target. But I do sincerely believe that the target is doable and that we should work single-mindedly to achieve it as a priority national endeavour,” he added.

Dr Singh said, “The carefully crafted regulatory and incentive framework that has been unveiled today has several innovative features. This will encourage technological innovation and generate economies of scale, thereby leading to a steady lowering of costs.”

“We will need to find ways of reducing the space intensity of current solar applications, including through the use of nano-technology. Cost-effective and convenient storage of solar energy beyond daylight hours will be critical to its emergence as a mainstream source of power,” he added.

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah presided over the function.The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission is India’s initiative on climate change, which comes under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

With the Launch of the ‘Solar Mission Programme’, the Centre is eyeing upon reducing the target from the original 20,000 MW to a more reasonable limit. (ANI)