Says no solar rooftop installation done yet
PANAJI
The Goa government has informed the State Legislative Assembly about its plan to withdraw year-old scheme -- the Goa Vinamulya Vij scheme
The State centric scheme launched in line with PM-SGMBY ensures zero electricity bill and free residential rooftop up to 5KW for residential consumers consuming 400 units or led per month. Apart from this, the Electricity Department offers a complete waiver on power bill charges for a period of ten years.
“The Goem Vinamulya Vij Yevjan is proposed to be withdrawn,” Minister for New and Renewable Energy Ramakrishna Dhavalikar told the House in a written reply submitted to MLA Digambar Kamat.
Dhavalikar said that under the scheme not a single solar rooftop installation has been done till date. “Under the scheme no solar rooftop installation has been carried out. As there are no installations done, there is no financial implication incurred by the Government due to the scheme,” he said.
He also said that the government does not intend to modify or replace the scheme with any other scheme.
The Goan had reported about State government’s move to integrate the scheme under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PM-SGMBY).
Under PM Surya Ghar scheme consumers installing a 3KV solar system will be eligible for subsidies between Rs 1,80,000 to Rs 2,00,000, with Rs 78,000 provided by the Central Government and an additional 30 per cent contributed by the State government.
The electricity generated is purchased by the government, creating a financially viable model for consumers.
“The decision was taken as the government had to shell out additional financial burden in the way of two schemes. Under the central scheme, State has to pay 30 per cent to the beneficiaries, while under the State scheme, it has 100 per cent funding for residential rooftop upto 5KW for residential consumers consuming 400 units per month,” the government sources had informed.
Under the scheme, the government had set a target to install 10 MW of residential solar panels by 2025 end and for which a budgetary provision of Rs 35 crore was made.
Under the PM-SGMBY, the State has target of installing 21,200 solar rooftop plants across the State by 2027, with a total 65 Megawatt (MW) of green energy generation.
