Indian solar industry can attract $70-80 bn investment: Modi
New Delhi, Oct 2 : India wants to create a robust ecosystem for the manufacture of solar panels in the country to give a filip to the sector which can provide opportunities for investments worth $70-80 billion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.
Inaugurating a joint assembly here of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Renewable Energy Ministerial and Global RE-Invest 2018, Modi said in the last four years, India has emerged as the most favourable destination for renewable energy investment and has attracted $22 billion of investment in the sector.
He said the government's target is to generate 40 per cent of India's total energy requirements in 2030 by non-fossil fuel based sources.
"Solar power generation costs in India have gone down hugely, while the country has become the most favourable destination for renewable energy. In the last 4 years, the sector has attracted investments worth $22 billion," he said.
"We want to set up a strong ecosystem for manufacture of solar panels in the country. This area has immense opportunity available, for investment worth $70-80 billion."
Elaborating on India's strides in clean energy development during the tenure of the NDA government, Modi said that 72 gigawatt (GW) of renewable energy capacity had been added in this period, while solar capacity had gone up nine-fold from earlier.
"Power storage is equally important and a National Energy Storage Mission is being drawn up from the perspectives of demand creation, manufacture, innovation and augmenting storage capacity," the Prime Minister said.
He said that towards achieving the government's target of achieving 175 GW renewable energy capacity by 2022, it is planned to install 28 lakh solar pumps across the country in the next four years which would add capacity of 10 GW.
Giving the call of "One World, One Sun, One Grid", Modi said that the "ISA will assume tomorrow the role that the OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) is playing today."
"We are moving to a future where oil wells will be replaced by the rays of the sun in meeting our energy needs," he said.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
