The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that India has huge potential to become the leader in solar energy sector. He was addressing the inaugural session of ELECRAMA 2018, organized by the Indian Electrical and Electronics Manufacturing Association, in Noida, UP today. The Union Minister for Commerce & Industry, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.The Vice President said that the Indian Electrical Equipment Industry consists of generation, transmission, distribution and allied equipment and this industry provides direct employment to 5 lakh persons, indirect to 10 lakh others and over 50 lakhs across the entire value chain. He further said that this industry is facing stiff competition from imports and is seeking the creation of a level playing field for the domestic industry. I am sure the power sector will rise to occasion and ensure that the quality of international standards, he added.The Vice President said that various initiatives taken by the government have improved India’s rank in World Bank’s Ease of Getting Electricity Index from 99 to 26.
At the end of December 2017, only 1370 villages remained to be electrified out of 18, 452 un-electrified villages, he added.The Vice President said that global warming and climate change are affecting every aspect of our life and any new policy has to factor in the urgent need to protect environment and ensure sustainable development. He further said that with India ranking second in Renewable Energy Attractive Index 2017, this sector is bound to play a major role in the years ahead. Energy storage technologies are needed not only to create more resilient infrastructure but also to bring down costs, he added.The Vice President said that electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles will be driving the automobile industry in the coming years. He further said that the government had already unveiled the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan and set a target of 6-7 million units of Electric Vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles by 2020. In a bid to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, a major thrust is being given to e-vehicles, he added.