Nagaland targets 10,000 rooftop solar installations

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• Chief Secretary J Alam addresses media persons in Dimapur on Friday.

• DIMAPUR — Nagaland government has set an ambitious target of covering over 10,000 households under the rooftop solar scheme as part of its push to implement the Nagaland Solar Mission (NSM).
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• Chief Secretary J Alam shared this to reporters after a sensitisation programme on Friday at Dimapur Deputy Commissioner’s conference room.
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• The programme, held in convergence with the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG:MBY), aimed to engage local stakeholders, including civil society organisations, Dimapur Municipal Council, GB union, bankers, and empanelled vendors.
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• “We are optimistic that over 50% of the target can be met from Dimapur alone,” Alam said. He stressed the importance of collaboration among the stakeholders to ensure the mission's success.
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• Highlighting the financial benefits, Alam said that the rooftop solar scheme offers substantial subsidies — with central support covering over 90% of the installation cost for systems up to 3 kilowatts. He added that, in addition to reduced upfront costs, households would benefit from lower electricity bills.

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• Currently, Nagaland imports nearly 90% of its electricity from other states. Alam pointed out that even meeting 10-15% of the state’s demand through solar would significantly boost energy security. The state government has also pledged an additional subsidy of up to INR 50,000, making the total subsidy approximately INR 1.34 lakh for systems up to 3 kW.
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• “A 3-kilowatt system is sufficient to power household appliances,” he said, urging the public to act swiftly. “This subsidy won’t last forever. It’s a golden opportunity for households to take advantage while it’s still available.”
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• He encouraged residents to register at the national solar portal (www.pmsuryaghar.gov.in) at the earliest. Early registration, he explained, would help vendors provide timely quotations, drive price competition, and enable the government to allocate adequate subsidies based on demand.
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• Addressing concerns raised during the programme, Additional Chief Engineer (D&R), R Lobosang Jamir, said that while some empanelled vendors had displayed their rates, others had not, creating confusion. “We have issued a directive—vendors must display their rates, or their empanelment will be cancelled,” he warned.
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• Jamir maintained that price transparency is critical. “Once all vendors display their rates, consumers can make informed decisions. It will promote competition and help prices stabilise. Vendors must quote prices close to the benchmark cost,” he added. Any vendor quoting unreasonably high prices will face action.
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• He reiterated the state's goal of achieving 32 megawatts of rooftop solar capacity by 2026-27. Citing ongoing power shortages—30% during the hydro season and up to 50% in the lean season—he stressed that solar energy could significantly ease the strain on the grid.
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• Although Dimapur is prioritised in power distribution, Jamir said that balancing demand across districts is vital. The state’s overall power demand has already risen from 180 MW to nearly 190 MW.
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• He encouraged the consumers to register online and assured that both department officials and vendors would provide support to those facing difficulties during the process.

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