Tripura To Provide Rooftop Solar For Rs 1,000 To Low Income Households
Authorities identified 0.15 million (0.15 mn) families consuming less than fifty units per month for the first phase, from an estimated 0.3 million (0.3 mn) such consumers in the state, while the state has a total of one million (1 mn) electricity consumers. The minister outlined subsidy support under the PM Suryaghar scheme, noting that for one kilowatt the subsidy is Rs 33,000, for two kilowatts Rs 66,000 and for three kilowatts Rs 85,800, with eligible families required to pay only Rs 1,000 under the new plan.
He noted that 17,000 consumers have registered under the PM Suryaghar scheme and roughly 3,500 households have already installed rooftop systems. The project aims to add about 150 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity in the state and will be implemented jointly by TSECL, the state government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with work expected to begin next month. The total estimated cost is Rs 11.15 billion (Rs 11.15 bn); Rs 4.95 billion (Rs 4.95 bn) is to come from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the remaining Rs 6.56 billion (Rs 6.56 bn) will be arranged through ADB loans and state contributions.
Germany-based GIZ is conducting training with TSECL for engineers, officials and vendors on installation, repair and maintenance, and two handbooks in English and Bengali were released for consumers, vendors, bank officials and engineers to improve understanding of rooftop technology. The minister said the aim is to complete beneficiary identification by 2026 and implement the scheme within a year, noting the central subsidy will continue until March 2027 and that each selected family will receive a one-kilowatt (kW) system after paying the one-time Rs 1,000.