Kohima: Nagaland residents have installed only 800 rooftop solar units out of a 10,000-household target for the Prime Minister Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. The state offers the highest subsidy in India for this program. Yet, public participation remains sluggish. Albert Ovung, Executive Engineer of the Chümoukedima Electrical Division, confirmed these figures on October 14 at the Seva Setu Abhiyan launch.
The state faces a growing energy crisis. Current demand sits at 200 MW, but officials expect this to hit 300 MW by 2030. Filling this 100 MW gap through market purchases could cost the state Rs 450 crore annually. "When the power cost goes up, our tariff also will go up," Ovung said. He warned that rates could climb to Rs 15 per unit within five years.
Officials cite land acquisition hurdles for stalling hydro projects, making solar a necessary alternative. While Dimapur leads the state with over 200 installations, Chümoukedima holds the highest capacity at nearly 800 kW. Residents can register at Seva Setu camps using ID cards, electricity bills, and bank details. Soft loans are available for those interested in the transition.
PHED Minister Jacob Zhimomi noted that urban growth is driving up electricity costs for households. "When we purchase power with hard cash, we only recover around 40 percent in revenue; it is running at a deficit, with no recovery," Zhimomi stated. He urged residents to join the program to cut expenses. Zhimomi also warned vendors to avoid substandard equipment. He tasked the districts of Chümoukedima, Dimapur, and Niuland with becoming model areas for solar power adoption.
Comments