New Delhi: The Modi government’s marquee scheme, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which aims to install rooftop solar systems for 1 crore households by FY2026-27, accounts for 72 percent of the total budget allocation for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), said a parliamentary panel report. The report said that the MNRE had projected a budgetary requirement of Rs 12,001.70 crore for the financial year 2024-25 and Rs 21,230 crore has actually been allocated, which is an increase of about 170 percent against Revised Estimates of the last year.
“This amount includes Rs 19,100 crore as Budget Estimates and Rs 2,130 crore from Sovereign Green Fund. The Committee observe that about 87 percent budget of the Ministry is allocated for only one component i.e. Solar Energy. Under Solar Energy component itself, about 72 percent of the budget is for the implementation of only one scheme, ie, PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana” the panel noted.
The standing committee noted that schemes for developing rooftop solar projects have not performed well in the past as only 89,432 MW has been installed till August 31 this year against the potential of 7,48,990 MWp in the country.
Referring to PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the panel said, “However, the Committee would like to highlight the slow pace of installations, as only around 5 lakh installations have been done out of around 20 lakh applications made on the portal by October 2024. Out of this, 5 lakh installations, subsidy disbursal has been done for only around 3 lakh.” The report added that the parliamentary panel was informed by the Secretary that the momentum of installation was reduced due to monsoons and it has picked up now.
“The Committee feel that the Ministry should make concerted efforts to popularise this laudable scheme further, especially highlighting its subsidy component so that large scale consumers are encouraged to adopt it,” said the report.
“The Committee also recommend that apart from households and Government buildings, the Ministry may consider including schools, hospitals, small industries and other institutional buildings within the subsidy component of the scheme. This will not only increase the demand in the market but will also bring in private investments, encourage domestic manufacturing as well as create more job opportunities in solar sector,” said the standing committee.
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