PANAJI
Sudden procedural changes, glitches with ECS mandates and delay on part of the State government to grant financial approval, has left close to 120 solar rooftop beneficiaries awaiting for their State share of subsidy for the last three months.
While a list of nearly 124 beneficiaries was submitted to the Accounts department since October, 2024, for release of payment, amounting to around Rs 1.90 crore, the consumers are yet to receive their share. This has led to a trust deficit among consumers with regards to the Prime Minister’s Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
As part of Central share, the subsidies of 131 consumers have been redeemed and the payment was released as of November, last year.
Once the application is approved, the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) releases the subsidy amount within 30-days into the bank accounts of the beneficiary. After Centre releases its share, the same is updated on State portal, for release of State share of subsidy, which has to be done again within a month’s time.
However, as per the information available from the vendors, several consumers have not received the subsidy even after Central share of payment almost six months back. Several solar vendors say that the delays are creating a trust deficit and brand imaging of these companies among the consumers.
Some beneficiaries informed that the State is now making them pay Rs 590 as an online registration fee to the Electricity department -- for which a separate portal has been put in place, to get the State share of subsidy.
Consumers who have installed solar units over their rooftops at their own cost with the hope of getting reimbursed to the extent of the government’s promised subsidy are somewhat disillusioned.
Sources informed that the Portal was launched much in advance; however, failure on part of the Goa Energy Development Agency to inform the vendors and consumers, led to the chaos. Sources also said that since the release of payment is now handled by the Accounts department, they have been raising certain queries with regards to the ECS mandate of certain consumers, forcing them to provide fresh bank details, further delaying the payment.
“Also, there was an initial delay on part of the government to give financial approval for release of the fund allocation made towards solar rooftop. The Lok Sabha model code of conduct also delayed the entire procedure,” sources said.
A senior official at the Accounts Department, however, could not explain why consumers were not informed earlier about different bank account requirements.
When contacted, Minister for New and Renewable Energy Ramakrishna Dhavalikar said that he will take up the issue with the Accounts Department to ensure speedy disposal of the subsidy. He said that the issue was brought to his notice and is working to resolve it.
