Delayed solar laws irk public

NIZAMABAD: In the wake of severe power crisis, people are showing interest in setting up solar equipment to meet the electricity needs in the domestic, commercial and agriculture sectors.

But the new governments at the Centre and in the state have not yet finalised the solar energy policy for 2014-15 following which solar energy schemes funded by the Telangana State New and Renewable Energy Development Corpor-ation (TSNREDC) were not being implemented at the district-level for the last one year.

People are being forced to buy solar energy equipment in the open market for exorbitant prices. Posing themselves as approved dealers recognised by the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE), several private dealers have been cashing in on the situation.

A solar lamp worth Rs 2,503 (CFL model) used to be sold at a subsidy of ' 900, earlier.  But now, there is no subsidy on any of the solar energy equipment including solar home lighting, solar street lights, water heaters.

The new governments, it is learnt, are reviewing the previous government’s solar policy to finalise a new one. Consumers are expressing anger over delay in finalising the new policy.

Speaking to this newspaper, an official of the New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation said they were waiting for the guidelines on solar subsidy schemes. “Earlier, the central and state governments provided 30 and 20 per cent subsidy respectively on solar energy systems,” he explained.  The new policy policy is likely to be finalised by January, 2015.

The earlier government had sanctioned 480 solar power packs (consisting of bulbs, fans, etc) for Nizamabad district but owing to the delay in finalisation of the policy, they have not been grounded yet, he explained.

Government ITI (Girls) principal K.Rammohan Rao said they have decided to instal solar energy equipment in their college. “Due to the frequent power cuts, training for students is getting hampered. To avoid such inconvenience, we have decided to set up 5-KW solar energy equipment in the building,” he said, adding that it would help them in running theory classes without any trouble. Following directions from the district collector, we have proposed for solar energy equipment and would ask the government for providing subsidy on the installation cost, he added.

Two years ago, the district administration had provided 1-KW capacity solar energy packs for social welfare residential schools in Nizamabad district and the inmates of these schools are happy with the equipment.

Meanwhile, a few farmers are buying China-made solar energy systems for agriculture and domestic needs as they are available at a cheaper price.