Centre eyes 2.7L rooftop solar systems in Bengal in 2 yrs

Kolkata: The Centre has set a target of installing rooftop solar systems for 2.7 lakh domestic consumers under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana over the next two years. Additionally, the Centre has also directed the state govt to install two crore smart meters in Bengal over the next 3-4 years.

“We have asked the state govt to install two crore smart meters, starting July this year in govt offices, housing complexes, big consumers and other consumers,” Union power minister Manohar Lal said on Saturday after holding a meeting with CM Suvendu Adhikari in Kolkata.

West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (WBSEDCL) has already installed around 7 lakh smart meters in govt offices, big industrial and commercial consumers and domestic consumers. The Centre will give a grant of Rs 900 per smart meter, Lal added.

The CM said, “Work should be done under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, which could benefit the people who are below poverty lines and those staying in hill areas. A team from the state will go to Delhi. We will discuss and work together.”

The state govt has already implemented PM Surya Ghar, which offers financial subsidies to domestic consumers for installing rooftop solar power systems, across the state. It is one of the several Central schemes that were not implemented by the previous Trinamool Congress govt in the state.

“The Centre has asked us to install rooftop solar systems for 2.7 lakh domestic consumers under the PM Surya Ghar across Bengal in the next two years,” a senior state govt official said.