It is heartening to note the announcement of ambitious target of 20,000 MW of solar power during 2017-18. If we look back seven years before when the National Solar Mission was announced the target until year 2022 was kept as 20,000 MW. Finance Minister has played a T20 cricket match rather than the old fashioned test cricket. To aid this development further the incentives for electronics manufacturing is at a record Rs 750 crore which should stimulate inverter and battery manufacturing. Any Smart city as well as Solar city should find start-ups and entrepreneurs stimulating for manufacturing.

Creation of Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund of Rs 8,000 crore over next three years should cheer the solar thermal industry. Much of the dairy processing requires heat up to 120oC and considering the vast solar radiation available the feasibility exists.

The announcement of 100 per cent village electrification is good news rather it should have been 100 per cent electricity to all households as the definition of village electrifications means even if one electrical pole serving houses in vicinity.

- Jaideep N. Malaviya, Secretary General, Solar Thermal Federation of India