Gujarat government stops paying subsidies to rooftop solar scheme beneficiaries

Gujarat government has stopped paying subsidies to beneficiaries of the rooftop solar scheme since April 21.

The state government pays subsidies to beneficiaries in the range of Rs 10,000 to 20,000 against the total cost of installation of rooftop solar panels. The state has stopped the payment as it has not received the funds from the Centre’s budget grants of the current year, said energy minister Saurabh Patel.

Patel said, “The central government is yet to release the grants for Gujarat under the promotion of rooftop solar policy for the current financial year. As soon as the grants are given to the state government, we will start paying subsidies to the beneficiaries. We are not going to debar any beneficiary from the subsidy they are eligible to recieve under the policy.”

However, sources from the energy department said that the policy was under the consideration of the central and state governments and the amount could be docked after the reconsideration.

“The production of silicon panels has started in India too and that is why the cost of installation of rooftop solar panel will go down. That is why the government is going to decrease the amount of subsidy. The policy will change very soon across the country.”

Source: dnaindia