MUMBAI, INDIA - India is to host a Live Earth concert later this year, where stars from the world of music, film and television will raise funds for solar energy.

The event will take place in Mumbai on Dec 7, Live Earth founder Kevin Wall said, predicting it would be 'one of the biggest events ever produced here and one of the major events on television'.

'If you're alive in India, somewhere, somehow, you can see or hear or become part of this event,' he told a news conference.

A detailed line-up of those involved will be announced in the coming weeks, but the news conference was shown a video message from American rocker Jon Bon Jovi, who said he would be taking part.

'I can't wait to come to Mumbai on Dec 7,' he said.

Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan also said he would be participating with members of his family, including his actor son Abhishek, and daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Rai, a former Miss World and model.

Live Earth India's creative director will be the acclaimed Indian film director Shekhar Kapur, Wall said.

Proceeds from the concert will go to projects including the Light A Billion Lives campaign, supported by the chairman of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Mr Rajendra Pachauri.

The scheme aims to provide sustainable, solar-powered lanterns to the estimated 1.6 billion people around the world who do not have access to electricity.

Wall said Live Earth, which last year was seen by more than two billion people around the world, had always had India in mind when planning a follow-up.

Mr Gore, speaking via satellite-link from the US, said India was chosen because it is the world's largest democracy, one of the oldest and greatest civilisations and also because of its emerging economic clout on the global stage.

'Because of all those factors, it is poised to play a tremendous leadership role as we begin the 21st century,' he added. --AFP