A Parliamentary panel has expressed apprehensions over the achievement of targets by the new and renewable energy ministry under the ambitious national solar mission programme.
In its latest report, the standing committee on new and renewable energy said the ministry has allocated only 220 MW of grid power addition for the first year against the target of 1100 MW for the first phase of the project ending March 2013.

"Against this backdrop, the Committee place their apprehension about the achievement of first phase target in both grid and off-grid solar power," the panel headed by SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said.

On the wind and waste to energy programmes, it suggested that the Ministry, if necessary, should come out with penal provisions for project developers failing to adhere to time schedule of the project.

The panel said the Ministry should endeavour to achieve full capacity under the solar mission as targeted for the current year and should plan in advance for successful implementation and monitoring of the programme so that they may not be behind the first phase target at least.

The national solar mission launched last year envisages to generate 20,000 MW of electricity from solar energy sources by the year 2022.

Pointing towards achievement of 62.6 and 19.6 per cent of the target in wind energy and waste to energy programmes respectively, the panel said the Ministry seems to be shifting the responsibility by citing global economic recession along with other things.

"The Ministry should not only focus on implementation of projects but also on their proper monitoring with all agencies involved to ensure achievement of targets," the panel said.