BK News
Srinagar, Jan 16: To generate electricity by installing solar panels on the rooftops of the houses, Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is providing 40% and 20% subsidy upto 3KW and 10KW respectively.
The subsidy is provided under the Government of India’s Grid-connected Rooftop Solar Scheme Phase-II.
The scheme is being implemented in the states by local Electricity Distribution Companies (discoms).
However, Jammu and Kashmir has ranked on the bottom of states and UTs for availing the scheme and installation of the rooftop solar power despite having a huge power deficit.
J&K has to purchase power from outside with an annual bill of Rs 6500 crore against which the power recoveries are just Rs 2300 crore.
Residential consumers willing to set-up a rooftop solar plant under MNRE scheme can apply online and get rooftop solar plants installed by the vendors listed by the concerned discoms.
A consumer has to pay the cost of rooftop solar plant by reducing the subsidy amount given by the ministry as per the prescribed rate to the vendor. The process of which is given on the online portal of the discoms. The subsidy amount will be provided to the vendors by the ministry through the discoms.
Domestic consumers are informed that to get subsidy under the scheme of the ministry, they should install rooftop solar plants only from the empanelled vendors of the discoms following due process of approval by the discoms. The discoms have issued online process for this purpose.
No vendors authorised by MNRE
But the MNRE, in a statement, has cautioned the consumers that some rooftop solar companies and vendors are setting up rooftop solar plants by claiming that they are authorized vendors by the ministry.
“It is clarified that no vendor has been authorized by the ministry. This scheme is being implemented in the state only by the discoms,” the statement reads.
The discoms have empanelled vendors through bidding process and have decided rates for setting up a rooftop solar plant, it said.
The solar panels and other equipment to be installed by the empanelled vendors shall be as per the standard and specifications of the ministry and also includes 5-year maintenance of the rooftop solar plant by the vendor.
It has also been brought to the notice of the ministry that some vendors are charging more price than the rates decided by the discoms from domestic consumers, which is incorrect, the statement said. Consumers are advised to pay only according to the rates decided by the discoms. The discoms have been instructed to identify and punish such vendors, it said.
The ministry has asked the consumers to contact on tollfree No. 1800-180-3333 or long on to https://solarrooftop.gov.in.
