Greentech Lead India: Government of India has no plan for
blanket ban on foreign manufactured solar cells in the country, said Minister
of New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah.
However, the use of such cells in various programs would
be governed by the policy guidelines of the respective programs.
Accordingly certain clauses have been included in various
schemes of the JNNSM viz Rooftop PV and Small Solar Power Generation Programme
(RPSSGP), Batch-I&II and Off-grid and Decentralized Solar Applications to
encourage domestic manufacturing.
According to the new rule, all Grid Solar Power Developers under RPSSGP,
Phase-1 and Phase-2 of JNNSM, using Crystalline Silicon Technology, are
required to procure Modules manufactured in India. Under off-grid solar
scheme of Government of India, only modules made in India are allowed to be
used.
The Government also recommended a concessional import and
excise duty exemption for setting up solar plants in the country. As per the
monthly generation report compiled by Central Electricity Authority, 83.483 MU
of grid solar power was produced during August, 2012 and 539.205 MU during the
period April, 2012 to August, 2012.