GANDHINAGR: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojna, for free solar power through rooftop scheme to 1 crore homes in the country on the day dedication of Lord Ram temple at Ayodhya, the Gujarat govt has set an ambitious target of providing rooftop solar facilities to a whopping 10 lakh homes during the 2024 calendar year.
Solar Rooftop Scheme Surya-Gujarat Scheme was launched by the state govt from Aug 5, 2019, for the purpose of providing relief in electricity bills to residential consumers in the state and boost green energy generation.
“Gujarat stands at the first position in the country for installation of solar rooftop. Gujarat contributes 81% of India’s total solar rooftop installations under MNRE‘s Phase–II programme,” a key officer at Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL) said, citing MNRE’s report dated Dec 12, 2023.
MNRE circulated Gujarat’s model on awareness activities to all states.
The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojna worth over Rs 75,000 crore, aims to light up 1 crore households by providing up to 300 units of free electricity. The scheme offers substantive subsidies and heavily concessional bank loans. The Central govt will ensure that there is no cost burden on the people, the official further added.
“All stakeholders will be integrated into a national online portal which will add further convenience. Urban local bodies and panchayats shall be incentivized to promote rooftop solar systems in their jurisdictions. The scheme will lead to more income, lesser power bills and employment generation for people. Subsidy benefits are provided under this scheme for installation of solar rooftop systems for residential household consumers by the central govt.”
The official said, “Under this scheme, the amount of subsidy will be deposited in the customer’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer mode. As many as 10 lakh residential rooftops solar installations have been planned in the 2024 calendar year in Gujarat. The installations will take place district-wise.”
Currently, the govt gives 40% subsidy for the first 3kW, 20% for 3kw above and up to 10kW for residential connections, 20% for common facility connections of Group Housing Society and Residential Welfare Association for up to 500kW.
According to GUVNL data, as on Jan 2024, a total of 5,21,508 rooftop solar installations having capacity of 2,073 MW with a subsidy of Rs 3,155 crore have taken place in Gujarat.’’
