What are the recommendations of the national conference of state chief ministers to promote non-conventional energy?
The conference has recommended to the state governments to make it mandatory to use solar power in all the outdoor advertising signboards. The hotels, housing societies and government offices would be encouraged to install solar heating systems to save energy. In addition, the states have also been urged to send proposals to provide electricity to non-electrified villages through renewable sources. In conformity with the Common Minimum Programme, the government will encourage the use of bio-diesel, solar and other non-conventional energy to create new employment opportunities in rural areas. Our estimates reveal that with an investment of Rs 20 lakh the energy needs of a village of 100 households can be met through biomass-run gassifiers. We are planning to make a beginning this year itself by covering around 500 villages. Eventually, the programme will cover around 25,000 remote villages and 1,75,000 forest fringe villages. Utilisation of available biomass resource and its production