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).
Chief Secretary J Alam shared this to reporters after a
sensitisation programme on Friday at Dimapur Deputy Commissioner’s conference
room.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
“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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
