MEDA fails to clarify doubts on subsidy to roof top solar energy system

Nashik: The Maharashtra Energy Development Authority's (MEDA) one-day workshop on using roof-top solar energy system received a dry response as they failed to clarify the release of subsidy to energy consumers.
The divisional-level workshop was organised here on Friday, wherein industrialists, individuals and MSEDCL officers were invited for understanding the issues of roof-top energy system.The energy system is being implemented in other states for a few years now, but was officially launched in the state only in December, last year.
The consumers applying for the system and its subsidy are still in the dark about the benefits they will prevail.
"MEDA is the state agency which is the nodal office to inspect and sanction the subsidy given by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy on solar roof-top energy system. However, MEDA despite having organised a programme to popularise the system in Nashik, failed to address the issues. MEDA did not address our core issues," said Sandesh Rakte, an individual who had issues about the subsidy.
The consumers were only informed about the social causes of the energy system.
Every year, around Rs 500 crore is kept for giving subsidy to consumers who raise roof-top solar energy systems, which will be given only till 2018. The government has fixed the cost of solar power system at Rs 75,000 per kw and subsidy equivalent to 30% will be given only on the expenditure of the consumer - if the system is running for three years and more.
"This means that we stand to lose the subsidy because the government started the programme three years after other states started the same. The people are now facing these problems which are not being addressed either by the state government or by MEDA," another person who attended the meet Satej Patil said.
After the lecture, when people started raising doubts, the MEDA officers chose to stop the programme saying there was constraint of time.
The Maharashtra Energy Development Authority (MEDA) that had organised a day's workshop on using roof top solar energy system for individuals and industrialists failed to clarify the doubts about energy consumers regarding releasing of subsidy to the ones who raised them. The officials instead wound up the programme putting forth the excuse of time constraints.
The divisional level workshop was organised at Hotel Express Inn on Friday, in which the industrialists, individuals, the MSEDCL officers were invited for understanding the issues of roof top energy system. The roof top energy system is being implemented in other states for the past few years, but was officially launched in state only on December 2015, but the consumers now applying for the system and its subsidy are still in dark about the manner in which they will be getting the benefits.
"The MEDA is the state agency which is nodal office to inspect and sanction the subsidy that is given by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) on solar roof top energy system. However MEDA despite having organised a programme to popularise the system among masses at Nashik, failed to address the issues. We were called for the programme and MEDA did not address our core issues," Sandesh Rakte, an individual who had some issues about subsidy said.
The addressees did inform the people about what roof top energy system was, how it would bring carbon credits to the county, how individuals would benefit from the green energy generation - ultimately a social cause etc.
"But what about the subsidy?" Rakte questioned.
Every year around Rs 500 crore are kept for giving the subsidy to the consumers who raise roof top solar energy system and also the subsidy will be given only till 2018. The government has fixed the cost of solar power system at Rs 75,000 per kw and subsidy equivalent to 30 percent will be given only on the expenditure by the consumer - if the system is live and running for three years and more.
For instance if a person raises system now with loan for the project at the rate of interest equivalent to housing loan, the person will be eligible for the first instalment of subsidy only after utilisation certificate by the power generation company after three years.
"This means we stand to lose the subsidy because the government started the programme three years after other states started the same. The people are now facing these problems and these issues are not being address either by the state government or by the MEDA," Satej Patil, another individual from the audience pointed out.
Nitin Gadre, Director General of MEDA addressed the programme.
These questions were raised after the lectures by the experts in the field addressed the gathering. But as soon as people started raising their doubts, the MEDA officers chose to stop the programme at 2.00 pm saying because of time constraints they were concluding the programme. "The programme was spreading awareness among masses and for any issues the people can call up the regular offices," a senior MEDA official said.