Lok Sabha Question No. 1556 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-31
Subject: Solar Street Light Project
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Dr. Thirumaavalavan Tholkappiyan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1556

ANSWERED ON 31/07/2024

## SOLAR STREET LIGHT PROJECT

## 1556. DR. THIRUMAAVALAVAN  THOLKAPPIYAN

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether  the  Government  is  implementing  solar  street  light  project  that  provides  off-grid electricity in most of the remote villages and tribal areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)   the list of number of villages and most backward tribal areas covered fully or partially with solar street lights throughout the country including Tamil Nadu under off-grid programme till now; (c) the details of Central Financial Assistance (CFA) provided to the States especially Tamil Nadu for solar off-grid applications including solar street lights during the last three years and the current year;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to support LED-based solar street lights in order to bring in more efficiency and Lithium Ferro Phosphate battery in order to provide long maintenance free service and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government is implementing the programme on information and public awareness to generate awareness in the public for utilisation of renewable energy sources and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF  STATE  FOR NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER

## (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

- (a) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is implementing New Solar Power Scheme (for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) Habitations/Villages) under Pradhan Mantri Janjati  Adivasi  Nyaya  Maha  Abhiyan  (PM  JANMAN).  The  scheme  has  provision  for  (i) electrification of one lakh un-electrified households (HHs) in PVTG areas, by provision of offgrid solar systems where electricity supply through grid is not techno-economically feasible, and (ii) solar street lighting and solar lighting in 1500 Multi-Purpose Centres (MPCs) of PVTG areas where electricity through grid is not available.
- (b) Under Off-grid and Decentralised Solar Applications Programme Ph-III, based on the demand received from the States/UTs, solar street lights were sanctioned to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Uttrakhand. No demand was received from the State of Tamil Nadu  for  solar  street  lights  under  the  said  programme.    Against  the  sanction  issued  to  the States/UTs, a total of 1,46,577 solar street lights have been reported installed in 8,594 villages, including in villages with tribal areas under the programme.
- (c) Under various solar off-grid schemes/ programmes of MNRE, a total of over Rs. 2816 Crore has been released as Central Finance Assistance (CFA) during the last three years and the current

financial year till 30 th June 2024 to different States/UTs, including Rs. 38.28 Crore to the State of Tamil Nadu.

(d) MNRE, from time to time, has updated its specifications for solar street lights to be installed under various schemes and programmes of the Ministry. The present specifications for solar street lights have LED lamps with Lithium Ferro Phosphate battery.

(e) MNRE is implementing the Information and Public Awareness Programme in which various publicity  activities  such  as  workshops,  seminars,  webinars,  exhibitions,  placing  of  hoardings, panels and mobile van campaigns etc. are being carried out through its allied organizations such as SECI, IREDA, State Nodal Agencies and Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) to increase the public awareness about the benefits of renewable energy and the benefits/incentives given by the  Government  under  various  schemes/  programmes  for  promotion  of  renewable  energy.  In addition  to  this,  Ministry  is  also  active  on  social  media  platforms,  such  as  Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Youtube and Instagram.

*****