Pune: Overwhelming Interest in Solar Power Scheme Causes Glitch, Authorities Initiate Prompt Action 

Residents in Maharashtra benefit from the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Mukt Bijli Yojana, aiming to provide free electricity through solar power.

The central government has introduced the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Mukt Bijli Yojana, a new scheme aimed at providing free electricity to households using up to 300 units per month through solar power. This initiative was launched in February and offers a subsidy of up to ₹78,000 for installing rooftop solar projects of up to 3 kilowatts.

To participate, consumers need to register on a dedicated website set up by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, with the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) serving as the nodal agency. The scheme has received an overwhelming response, with 173,272 customers registering in Maharashtra alone.

However, the large influx of registrations has led to complaints about the scheme’s website. The Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy has acknowledged these issues and mobilized a team of experts to address them, starting their work on Sunday.

On Saturday, senior officials from MSEDCL discussed the website problems with officials from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy via video conference. Representatives from the agency installing rooftop solar projects in Nagpur also participated. The Union Minister agreed to send a team of high-level officials to Mumbai to resolve the issues. Additionally, the IT department of MSEDCL will assist the central unit in fixing the website problems. “We are committed to ensuring that all eligible households can benefit from this scheme without facing technical difficulties,” said a senior official. The government is taking swift action to resolve any issues and support consumers in adopting solar energy.