Kohima: Nagaland has kicked off a three-day Seva Setu Abhiyan campaign to jumpstart stalled rooftop solar installations. Officials launched the drive on October 14, targeting a dismal 5 to 6 percent completion rate against a state goal of 10,000 households under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.
National progress hits nearly 40 percent, leaving Nagaland lagging behind. Local officials held camps across the state, including Dimapur, Kohima, Wokha, Longleng, and Mokokchung. These sessions run through October 16 to provide on-the-spot registration, technical guidance, and financing help. The scheme remains open until March 31, 2027.
Subsidies provide significant relief. Eligible residential consumers can claim up to 1,35,800 rupees in total support, comprised of 85,800 rupees from the Centre and 50,000 rupees from the state government. Twenty-six empanelled vendors are now active across the state to handle installations.
Early adopters report major savings. Mokokchung resident Asung Jamir said, "My monthly electricity bill had fallen from Rs 1,700 to Rs 230 after installing rooftop solar in July." Another user reported switching to induction cooking, slashing reliance on firewood and gas.
Power department officials emphasize that the solar initiative is strictly for domestic use. The system allows users to feed surplus electricity back into the grid for credit, at roughly 2 rupees per unit. Dr. KD Vizo, Principal Secretary of Power, noted that the move lowers government power purchase costs while easing the burden on conventional energy sources like thermal and hydro. Authorities are urging residents to visit local camps between 10 am and 2 pm to secure the subsidies before the window closes.
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