Solar consumers not getting 30% subsidy
Nagpur: There seems to be a sea of difference between the government’s announcements and their implementation. While the central and state governments are promoting solar power in a big way, people who go for it are facing a lot of hassles.
As per central government policy, certain category of consumers who install solar roof-top systems get 30% subsidy. These categories include residential, public services, educational institutions, etc. These consumers across the state are yet to get their 30% money back because the central government took its own time in announcing guidelines for state governments to empanel solar equipment manufacturers.
While Maharashtra Energy Development Agency (MEDA), which disburses these grants, is not directly responsible for the delay, its officials have not bothered to explain the reasons for delay properly.
A solar equipment supplier told TOI that many consumers had sent applications to MEDA months ago but were yet to get any response. “The agency has to issue a sanction letter and provide a reference number. Once this number is issued, we have to contact the local MEDA office for joint inspection. When the inspection report reaches MEDA head office in Pune, it releases the subsidy amount,” he said.
The supplier said that MEDA officials do not explain the real reasons for the delay and give some or the other excuse. “We have been running pillar to post for getting the subsidy,” he added.
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The delays can easily be explained. What do officials gain from doing their work. Channel some savings to them and you will see great enthusiasm.Dilip Jhaveri
Dr PR Malasne, associate professor of Sipna College of Engineering, Amravati, told TOI that his college had installed the solar roof top system in November last year. “We are entitled to get back Rs 13 lakh but have not got a single penny. Every time, MEDA officials say that the file will be processed in the next meeting. Our experience with MSEDCL, too, was very bad. It took three months to install a net meter,” he said.
Meanwhile, consumers in the state are also paying for the net meter, which should be provided by MSEDCL. They are buying these meters from open market that cost anything between 12,000 and 20,000. For small consumers, buying the net meter increases the project cost by almost 10%.
So far, 204 consumers in the district have applied for solar rooftop connections. Forty-one have got the system running of whom only one is from rural areas. Most are from the city. Of those in waiting list, 147 cosumers are from the city while only 16 are for rural areas. The records also show that more low tension (LT) consumers are opting for solar roof top systems. Of the 203 consumers, only 18 are high tension (HT) ones.
source-toi
