PANAJI
Month after Central government released financial aid under Phase 2 of the Rooftop Solar Scheme to Goa Government, more than 340 beneficiaries are still waiting for release of their State share of benefit.
As part of Central share, the subsidies of the consumers have been redeemed and the payment was released in a time-bound manner that is within 30-days of making the application to the Union Ministry for New and Renewable Energy.
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.
The State financial assistance, which is given to the beneficiaries through empanelled vendors, had faced delays due to discrepancies in the process, raising concerns among the affected beneficiaries. The assistance which was previously discontinued in Goa due to a lack of subsidy, was revived with modifications under the PM Surya Ghar initiative, last month.
The first installment of subsidy amounting to Rs 1.04 crore was received by the State towards disbursement of its share to the beneficiaries.
However, some vendors confirmed that the amount is yet to be released to the beneficiaries. “These beneficiaries are waiting for State share since October, last year. The government, initially citied reasons like procedural changes, glitches in ECS mandate, etc. However, even after rectification of the same, and Centre releasing payment to State, the money is yet to reach the beneficiaries,” sources said.
Sources informed that the beneficiaries were initially assured that their subsidies would be cleared by March 31, 2025.
Despite repeated attempts Minister Ramakrishna Sudin Dhavalikar remained unavailable for comments.
As part of procedural changes, beneficiaries informed that the State made 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.
Currently, around 400 to 500 consumers in Goa have registered under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. Almost 53 MW of green energy is generated from the solar rooftops.
