Subsidy on solar panels delayed, Asr residents irked

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 5

While the state government has been impressing upon residents to install solar power panels on the rooftops of their establishments to be self-reliant in the wake of the power ‘crisis’, the lackadaisical attitude in the disbursement of ‘assured’ subsidy to beneficiaries has become a cause for concern.

Under the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy scheme, state nodal agency Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) is to provide central finance assistance (CFA) or subsidy for grid-connected rooftop solar plants. As per the Union Government’s notification, the solar panels having capacity from 3kW (kilowatt) to 10kW would receive a CFA of 40 per cent up to 3kW capacity. The capacity above 3kW will receive an additional 20 per cent CFA on cost. CM Charanjit Singh Channi had directed the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) to shift focus to solar power mechanism to substitute the power crises due to coal shortage. However, several residents who had installed the solar panels on their rooftops after spending lakhs of rupees are running from pillar to post to claim their dues from PEDA.

Monu Seth, a resident of an Airport Road locality, said a firm authorised for installation of solar panels by the government had offered him to install the solar panels. “I was told I would be entitled to claim at least 30 per cent subsidy on a 3 kW capacity solar panel. I agreed and got installed a solar module worth Rs 2.25 lakh in January 2019. I was promised Rs 51,975 as subsidy but it was an unending wait to get it,” he said. When PEDA officials said the CFA was awaited from the Centre, the residents filed an RTI in this regard with the ministry concerned. “We were shocked to find that an amount of Rs 2.61 crore dated July 26, 2019 and another amount of Rs 5.49 crore dated November 28, 2019 had been given to PEDA. The officials were adopting delay tactics in giving us our dues,” he said.

PEDA Joint Director Supinder Singh said the subsidies were being disbursed in due course as and when received from the Centre. “If there is any pending case, ask them to contact us with their registration number,” he said.