BJD Reminds Odisha Govt Of Its 300 Units Free Electricity Promise; What Did BJP Pledge?

Bhubaneswar: Senior BJD leader Pratap Keshari Deb on Monday reminded the BJP government in Odisha about its poll promise to waive electricity bills up to 300 units.

Addressing a presser, Deb said that BJD had promised free power for consumers using up to 100 units and Naveen Patnaik would have signed the first file, waiving electricity bills from July, if the party had returned to power. “The BJP made a similar promise to waive bills up to 300 units. Since it is July 1, we expect the state government to keep its words and walk the talk,” he said. 

He further stated that all ministers of the new government have been asserting that the promises made by the BJP during the election would be fulfilled. “But we have not heard anything regarding waiving of electricity bills since June 5, which is why we felt the need to remind the government of this promise made to the people of Odisha,” he added.

WHAT DID BJP PROMISE?

In response to the previous BJD government’s election promise of 100 units of free electricity to every household every month, the BJP had promised to implement PM-Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, facilitating electricity through solar installations at a negligible price or for free.

Addressing a huge rally at Angul Stadium, Prime Minister Modi had also elaborated on the scheme. “Modi is working to reduce your electricity bills to zero. The PM Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana is expanding rapidly, with the Modi government providing over Rs 75,000 subsidy to consumers for installing rooftop solar panels, allowing you to use up to 300 units of free electricity and earn from the surplus.”

STEPS TAKEN

The Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water department has directed the districts to issue necessary instructions to panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) to promote adoption of solar energy under the programme. The PRIs would be provided incentives for promoting rooftop solar installations in the rural community. The subsidy to be provided to each household would cover up to 40 per cent of the cost of the solar panels to be installed on the roofs.

The scheme provides for a subsidy of 60 per cent of the solar unit cost for systems up to 2 kW capacity and 40 per cent of additional system cost for systems between 2 and 3 kW capacity. The subsidy has been capped at 3 kW capacity. At current benchmark prices, this will mean Rs 30,000 subsidy for 1 kW system, Rs 60,000 for 2 kW systems and Rs 78,000 for 3 kW systems or higher.

According to sources, 43,101 applications have been received in the PM-Surya Ghar portal from 30 districts in the state and 75 vendors have registered for providing solar panels.