India aims to boost solar power generation by encouraging the installation of panels along rail tracks and on barren land, according to Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s finance minister. The plans come as the country looks to cut its carbon footprint and accelerate clean energy production. India, Asia’s third-largest economy, has set a target to raise renewable energy capacity to 175 gigawatts by 2022 and is looking to accelerate clean energy production as some coal-fired power plants face closure. The proposal under consideration to set up large solar power capacity alongside rail tracks and raised the outlay for the renewable energy ministry by 48 percent for 2020/21. Sitharaman also stated plans to lower tax rates to utilities, which some experts say should mostly help boost renewable energy. In a further measure to reduce carbon emissions, India has launched a scheme to encourage farmers to use solar instead of diesel-fired irrigation pumps.

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