Solar Mission Reviewing the Targets

Photo: Prasad
A dysfunctional solar street lamp in Village Sukhban, Champaran, Bihar. High purchase and maintenance costs of solar utilities dissuade many among the poor from using technology, otherwise targeted towards the poor and the remote areas segments.

Abstract: The highly ambitious National Solar Mission has only five more years to complete its target of 100 GW power generation capacity. Not only is its completion eagerly awaited, but more crucial would be to see whether the Mission would be able to cover the mass populace that has been left out of the conventional power grid scenario till now.